The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-16
HIS. CONDUCT
 ADMIRABLE ssA - Schley'S Bearing Donated Utmost Bravery. COOL AND ENTHUSIASTIC High Compliment Paid by Capt. Cook to His Chief. James H. Sears, Who Was the Com modore's Flag Lieutehant, Gives
 Evidence in Behalf of
 the Admiral.
COOL AND ENTHUSIASTIC

Washington, Oct. 15.-Only one new witness was heard in detail by the Schiey court of inquiry today. This was Lieu tenant Commander James H. Sears. who Va. Admiral schleys flag lieutenant dur ing the Spanish war. He gave detailed acco unt of the entire Cuban campaign including the brief siege of Cienfuegos, the retro grade movement of the flying squadron in search of coal, the biocK- ade of Santiago, the reconnaissance or the Spanish shore batteries and the bom- hardment of the Cristobal Colon, May 3l and the battle off Santiago, July 8. when Cervera's fleet was destroyed. He placed the distance out of the blockading line at Cienfuegos at from one to four miles, and at Santiago at from three to six miles. He expressed the opinion that in the battle of July 1t had been the Vis- cayas intention to ram the Brooklyn.
 Mir. Raynor sought to secure the intro duction of a brief report of the battle of July 3. which Commodore Schley prepared for transmission to the Secretary of the Navy. It was stated that Commander Sears had taken this dispatch to be ca- bled to the Secretary, but it had never reached that official The dispatch was ruled out on the ground that as 1t was not received it was not an official com munication. It was not read in the court room but the following is a copy of it: ..The Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
 Spanish squadron came out of Santi- ago harbor this morning, July 8, at 9:30 and W gre all captured or destroyed in running fight to the westward of about three and half hours. Very few casu- alties in our fleet; Ellis, chief yeoman, killed and one man wounded on the Brooklyn. Reports from the other ships not yet in. The Chief now experimenting transfer of prisoners from the Cristobal Colon, which surrendered to the Brooklyn and Oregon at 1:15 p. m. About 1000 prisoners in all, including Spanish Admiral Victory complete; de- tails later. Schley."
 Captain Cook was recalled during the day and in response to a question by Captain Lemly made an additional state ment concerning the retrograde move HlenI OI lHc fly lHS SiNeiNipii' -'ASAS -N NS May 2S. He also said, in answer to a question by the court, that Commodore Schley during the battle of July 3, was cool, brave atnd enthusiastic. l can- not imagine any conduct in battle more admira ble."
 Sears Chief Witness
 The presentation of the Schley side of
 
 court of inquiry today. When yester- days witnesses had been recalled and had made the verbal corrections neces- sary in their testimony, they were promptly dismissed, and at the instance of MT. Raynor, the Judge Advocate sum lnoned Lieutenant-C Commander James H. Sears who, as Lieutenant, was Admiral Schleys flag officer on board the Brook lyn during the war with Spain.
 He testified to many details connected with the campaign and was promptly succeeded by number of other naval officers who served on the Brooklyn The list for today included Lieutenant-Com- Inander N. E. Mason, executive officer of the powder division of Admiral Schley's flagship, and Lieutenants Edward Simp- son, who was in charge of the S-inch tur- ret Of the Brooklyn and opened ire on the Spaniards when they first came out of the harbor at Santiago; Charles Web ster and Edward McCauley, the former Icing a watch officer and the latter sig nal officer on the Brooklyn. It was the understanding that if this list could not be completed today the officers named should come on tomorrow.
 Admiral Schley thinks it quite probable that the presentation of the testimony in his behalf can be completed this week or n xt. He will be the last to be heard, and when he goes on he will make review of the entire campaign covering the points in controversy.
 Nunez Recalled
 Eduardo Nunez, the Cuban pilot was among those who were called ito correct former testimony. He added to his state ment of yesterday that he had seen tha Brooklyn firing on May 31, the day of the hombardment of the Colon, whereas the r.cords show that that vessel was al that time coaling and did not participate in the arrangement. He also made a correc tion in his former statement concerning his conversation with Commodore Schley tn first meeting him. His corrected sl ater rnent of that incident was presented in written form and reads as follows:
 "In the conversation that l had with Commodore Schley, I said not that the water was deep enough. but that in ac- cordance with the information have had in Kingston, Jamaica, in regard to the dimensions of the Spanish ships, they were of such a large size that they could not get in the harbor in consideration or the narrowness of the channel ana the quick turn they had to make at the Dia- lnond shoal in front of the entrance and I still believe that vessels of such size cannot enter Santiago except under the most favorable conditions Of weather. also was asked by Admiral Schley if thought his flagship could enter the har- !or and I answered that 1 did not con idc- it advisable because of the condi- tons b,fore mentioned and because there v'rre no buoys to mark the channel, for th, Spanish had picked them up to pre- vent the American fleet coming in the port and besides they had many torpe- uo lines across the entrance"
 Sears Follows Nunez
 Lieutenant Commander Sears followed Eunez. Mfr Raynor questioned him. say ing at the beginning of the examination