New-York tribune., 1901-10-10
THE BROOKLYN'S LOOP.
ADMJRAL TAYLOR TESIIFIES
AGAINST SCHLEY.
SAW THE FLAGSHIP A MILE AND A
HALF TO SEAwARD OF THE BATTLE
ooLUNfN-D TESTIMONY
OF COMMANDER POTTS.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Washington, Oct. 9-Rear Admiral Henry G.
Taylor, who commanded the Indiana at the
battle OF Santiago, and Commander Templin NJ.
Potts, the navigator of the Massachusetts IN the
nannuvree Of the Flying Squadron on the
south coast OF Cuba, were the principal witnesses
before the Schley court OF inquiry to-day. al
though the greater part Of the two sessions was
consumed by two young watch and division Of
ficers Lieutenant Mark L. Bristol of the Texas.
who passed through a cross-examination which
shook much Of his testimony Of the previous
day. and Lieutenant Edward F. Leiper, of the
NewOrleans. who had charge Of 6-inch gun
in the pot" shooting at the Colon and the
reconnaissance OF May 81 1898.
Admiral Taylor related incidents of the battle
off Santiago. including the Brooklyn's famous
loop. He testified that he saw the Brooklyn at
a distance of a mile and q half to seaUard Of
the American column of battle. None Of the
Spanish ships. he said, had made any effort to
ram the American vessels when they came out
of the harbor at Santiago. An effort by Admiral
Schley's counsel to utilize Admiral Taylor's
presence TO bring out evidence that might be
remotely disparaging to Admiral Sampson led
TO a lively tilt between counsel Schleys coun-
sci sought TO have Admiral Taylor identify and
explain two signals which were exchanged be-
tween the Indiana and the New-York about an
hour before the spaniards out on July
3. and few minutes before Admiral Sampson
left the blockade The signals We're:
S:15 a. m. (New- York to Indiana). To Captain
Taylor twig wag)-The Admiral wishes to know
1f you will join him this morning going to see
General Shafter.
s:37 g. m 0ndiana to New-York). To Captain
Chadwick (wig wag)-Work on this ship pre-
viously going on prevents me from going with
you to-day. TAYLOR
II contended by the applicants counsel
that he seeking to prepare the way for the
claim that the command OF the fleet devolved
ON Schley, and that Taylor was aware of the
Likelihood of Cervera's sortie that morning. At
ter some wrangling the question was withdrawn
temporarily. to be renewed when the defence
formally begins next week.
The testimony Of Commander Potts rer
garded by naval authorities as the most serious
for Schlev of all far given. notwithstanding
the fact that his criticisms did not tally with
those Of Admiral Higginson and Lieutenant
Commander Schroeder. his immediate superiors
on board the Massachusetts. His recollections
Of conversations with Schley during the recon-
noissance We're unshaken by cross examination,
and bearing out the impression he gained Of
Echiey's unsuita bity to command fighting
force, they were extremely severe. His charac-
ferization of the blockades at Cienfuegos and
Santiago, taken in connection with his expert
ness in determining distances, distinctly
disconcertng to those who had hitherto found
circumstances justifying in some degree the con-
duct of the Flying Squadron those places,
leaving the retrograde movement out Of con-
eideration. and his views about the failure to
destroy the Colon seemed to strike the court as
strong. In his cross examination the latter
point. the judge advocate vehemently resisted
the desire Of Schley's counsel to introduce a
copy OF the Navy Departments confidential in
structions to Admiral Sampson, alleging that II
Sod her hat ord had
been sent to Schley- The court, after retiring
Tor deliberation, overruled the judge advocate
Lieutenant Leiper traversed the same ground
as that covered by Captain Folger on Monday
regarding the reconnaissance Of Nav 81, but
with greater elaboration and detail He showed
convincingly that the batteries altogether
insignificant compared with the general esti-
nation in which they We're held previous to the
attack and a few weeks later.