The San Francisco call., 1901-11-07
Attorney for The Dstngu shed Naval Off Ger
Delivers an Exceedingly Impressive Ad-
dress Before the Court of Inquiry

Captain Parker said he did not know how
the alleged controversy over the danger of
colliding with the Texas started except from
the story told by the captain of the Iowa.
Captain Parker was sarcastic in his allusion
to Captain Evans alleged statement regarding
the damage he had done to the Spanish ships.
captain Parker concluded with glowing trib-
ute to Admiral SchIey.
Rayner began his argument at 11:25 a. m.
he paid compliment to Judge Advocate Lem
ly and his assistant, Mr.. Hanna, for the most
judicial impartiality with which they have
managed this case" He then made a plea
for the consideration of questions from what
of view W '''''e S pm
Let u.s." he said put ourselves in his
place and see what the circumstances were.
We all know what it would have been wise
to do
The "Dear Schley" Letter.
Discussing dispatch No I. known as the
the order conveyed in that message made it
incumbent upon Commodore Schley to remain
at Cienfuegos. He declared that this was the
key to the whole case and that it did not
admit OF any other construction than that
commodore Schley should remain at Cienfuegos.
In support of this contention he read the de-
partments order to Admiral Sampson.
He then took up the McCalla memorandum.
the message delivered by the Eagle to Com
modore Sehley and the testimony OF Lieutenant
aood and declared that Admiral Schley was
the victim of an unfortunate combination of
circumstances that left him in total darkness
as to the location of the Spanish fleet
Concerning the question of coaling at sea
Raynor read the testimony of several witnesses
to prove the great difficulties such task in
VOWED He said that all they wanted to prove
was that Admiral Schley honest when he
informed the department of his increased anx-
acted according to the dictates of his own con-
science. He was prepared to prove that one
ship could not have followed the Spanish fleet
six hours and have had enough coal LETT to re-
turn to Key West.
Coming to the reconnaissance Of May 81 Ray
nor contended that it had been Commodore
alnrR+ hos t=la
land batteries and in this he said he had been
eInlnently successful. He claimed that the man
who was in command at such time should
De given great discretion, Tor he must neces-
sarily know more of the situation than the
gentlemen who make out battle plans at home
on charts with compass and pencil and direct
other people thousands of miles away how to
fight a battle. Raynor referred satirically to
the testimony of Lieutenant Bristol saying
among ether things:
His vision was a divine inspiration. Sex
tants and stadimeters, compass bearings Gov
ernment measurements and hydrograph plats
were all dim and obscure in comparison with
the miraculous power of his unaided vision,
bors of Cienfuegos and Santiago, with the un-
erring precision of the morning sunbeams.
Government experts with mathematical accu-
racy had measured the height of Moro Castle
and Zocapa battery, but down they went one
hundred feet when they encountered Brstops S
miraculous eye"
miral SIMPSONS interview with the commander
of the flying squadron especially referring to
oSiilSy testimony relative TO the Ql
rections of Admiral Sampson with reference
to attacks upon land batteries. He also re-
ferred to Captain Chadwick's testimony in this
connection.
Raynor said he thought that Captain Chad
wick had been forgetful, but, that no charge
could be made against him on that score. Ad-
miral Schley, however who had given positive
testimony. would be guilty of perjury if his
statement not true.
They must have talked about something -
he said "and what would they be more likely
to have discussed than the guns on the
south coast of Cuba. whittier Commodore
Schley then bound? p?
Reverting to the blockade of Cienfuegos
Raynor said Captain McCalla had admitted on
the stand that he himself had disobeyed orders
in not leaving the Eagle off that port when
he left for Key West. He did not he said
mean to criticize Captain McCalla but If he
was not to be censured for disobedience of