Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-10-05
EVANS AND SIGSBEE.
Famous Naval Commanders Tes-
tify in Schley Inquiry.
The Former Completes His Evidence
Latter Says He Did Not Tell
SchIey Spanish Fleet Was
Not in Santiago.

Washington, Oct. 2.-There were
five admirals of the United States
navy congregated Tuesday within the
railing of the gunners' shop in the
navy yard where the Schley court of
inquiry meets. Admiral Dewey and
his ass ociates, Admirals Benham and
Ramsay, occupied their usual seats as
members of the court, and Rear Ad-
miral Schley his customary place at
the table set apart for the ''the appli-
cant" in the witness stand. Rear Adj
miral Evans, who had been called
Monday, still occupied his position
and continued to tell his story of the
part taken by him as captain of the
Iowa during the historic period OF
the Santiago campaign.
Withheld Code from Schley.
Mr.. Rayner began his interroga-
tions by asking the witness concern
| ing the secret code of signals for
communicating with the Cuban insur-
gents near Cienfuegos. The admiral
said that when Capt. Chadwick COM
municated this code to him he did
not instruct him to give the infor-
nation to Commodore Schley.
"Were not the commanding officers called
on board the. flagship Brooklyn by signal
on the morning of May 90 after the Colon
was discovered?'
"They were"
"Can you tell me or q o you recollect what
took place at the conference of the COM
handing officers at that timer
Commodore Schey was in the cabin Of
the Brooklyn when we assembled, and
| No., t,aC ,@o, tcI,
fleet having been located at last at San
tiago. l do not recollect any special con-
ference. I do not think it was in the nature
of conference. do not recolect now that
the officers were asked to express any opin-
ion. | remember having a conversation
with Commodore Schley about the effect
of the fighting batteries on the ships, In
which l told him of the experience we had
had at San Juan, and expressed the opln-
ion to him that it was not worth while to
risk ships fighting shore batteries alone;
that l did not think anything would be
gained by It, In the case under considera-
ton the Spanish ships were present in the
harbor. The conditions were changed, and
we would have to take the risk of the fire
from the batteries in order to get at them.
l remember Commodore Schley remarking
| before we left that he felt that the country
held him responsible; that the ships should
not be risked under the fire of the shore
batteries until the Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed.
II want to call your attention to the re-
port of Capt. McCalla of the Marblehead
on page 426, of the appendix, which says:
Commodore Schley explained to the COM
handing officers that in case the Spanish
ships came out he wished to concentrate
the batteries of all our ships on a portion
of those of the enemy. This was not ex-
planned as a tactical concentration of our
whole force on part of the enemy, but as
division of our whole fire on several of
the enemys ships. During the time the
commanding officers were on board the
flagship Capt. Evans asked Commodore
Schley if it were his intention to steam at
| the enemy's ships in case they should start
| to come out. Commodore Schley answered.:
Certainly and added words indicative of
| his intention to attack them as they came
out of the narrow defile?"
81 recollect 1t perfectly
SIS that a correct statement?
THAT is correct"
"I want to read you two reports, your re-
port of the engagement of the Spanish
| squadron, and | would like you to tell me
! whether there is any conflict between
| them, and If there IS which one of these
| statements in your judgment now is cor
rect (reading): After having passed at
| 1875 the Oquendo and Maria Teresa on fire
| and ashore this vessel continued to chase
| and fire upon the Viscaya until 1895, when
| signal to cease firing was sounded on board,
| it having been discovered that the Viscaya
| had struck her colors.' That was at 1926
| in your report. Now, l want to read from
| the report of the commander in chief
(reading): The ViScaya still un0er
| the fire of the leading vessels, the Cristobal
Colon had drawn ahead leading the chase,
| and soon passed beyond the range or the
| guns of the leading American ships. The
| Viscaya was soon set on fire and at u:lo
she turned in shore and was beached at
| Asecraderos, Is miles from Santiago, burn
| ing fiercely, etc
Il have no doubt you read 1t correctly.
Capt. Sigsbee Testifies.
! Capt. Charles D. Sigsbee who command
| ed the scout ship st. Paul during the Span
| ish war, was next called. He said that in
| obedience TO orders from Capt. Wise, who
was his commanding officer, he had pro-
| ceeded to the vicinity of Santiago. arriV-
| ing there on the 21st. He told of taking
| aboard the Cuban pilot NuneZ, and said
| that he did not have great confidence in
| that individual. His instructions were to
report to Commodore Schley that the
| Spanish squadron pro badly was in San
| tiagJ harbor. He III in with the flying
| squadron on the evening of May g. the
| squadron then being 20 or Is miles south OF
| Santiago. He had reported to Commodore
Schley that he knew nothing positively
| about the Spanish fleet. He was then asked
| if he had expressed his belief to Commo-
| dore Schley that Cervera's fleet was not
| in the harbor as reported later by Com
modore Schley controversy arose over
| the admissibility of the question, and the
court took a recess for luncheon before
! receiving the reply of the witness.
| What Sigsbee Said.
! When the Schley court reconvened after
luncheon Capt. Sigsbee resumed his test-
mony. Mr.. Hanna repeated his question,
asked before recess, quoting from Admiral
| Schleys report of February IS, 1899, the
| sentence reading: AFTER having been as
sured by Sgsbee that he did not believe the
| Spanish fleet was IN Santiago" The wit
| ness replied:
| II stated that we had seen nothing oil The
Spanish fleet. l may have stated that /
knew nothing positively or absolutely
! about its movements, but 1 recited certain
| events to show that there was probability
of the fleet being in Santiago at that time"
Capt. Sigsbee was excused and Chief
| Yeoman Gustave E. Becker, of the cruiser
| New York was called He was on the
stand when the court, at 1858 p. m. ad
| journed
OF GENERAL INTEREST.