The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-01
by signal on the morning of May 29s
after the Colon was discovered?"
s"Thev were -


'They were-'
.Can you tell me, or do you recoIlect
what took place at the conference of
the commanding officers at that timer"
Commodore Schiey was in the cabin
of the Brooklyn when we assembled
and there was a general talk about the
Spanish fleet having been located at
last, at Santiago.
II do not recollect any special confer
ence. do not think it was in the ma
ture of a conference. do not recollect
now that the officers were asked to ex
press any opinion I 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 opinion to him that it
not worth while risking ship fight
ing shore batteries alone. / did not
think anything would be gained by it,
In the case under consideration, the
Spanish ships were present in the har-
bor. The conditions We're 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 re-
sponsible; that the ships should not be
risked under the fire of the shore bat
teries, until the Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed."
81 want to call your attention to the
report of Captain McCalla of the Mar
blehead on page 426 of the appendix,
which says:
" Commodore Schley explained to the
commanding 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 en-
emy. This was not explained as a tao
teal concentration of our whole force
on part of the enemy but as a. divis-
ion of our whole fire on several of the
enemy's ships. During the tine the
commanding officers were on board the
flagship Capt. Evans asked Commodore
Schfey 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'
Il recollect it perfectly"
rs that a correct statement?"
THAT is correct
$50 there was a plan of battle ar
ranged by Commodore Schley, was there
nOt?'
There is nothing there to indicate it,
from what you have read"
''Was not that the same order that
was afterward given by the COM
mander-in-chief, substantially: Close
in toward harbor entrance and attack
theln'?''
you have not read anything about
indicating any plan of battle"
Mr.. Rayner: "And added the words
(reading) indicative of his intention to
attack them as they came out"
TWO REPORTS.
ST want to read your two reports,
your report of the engagement of the
Spanish squadron, and would like you
to tell me whether there is any con-
f1ict between them, and if there which
one of these statements In your judg-
ment, now is correct. Reading) After
having passed at 1875 the Oquendo and
the Maria Teresa on fire and ashore,
this vessel continued to chase and fire
upon the Viscaya until 10:35, when
signal to cease firing was sounded on
board, it having been discovered that
the Viscaya had struck her colOrs'
That was at 1896 in your report Now
/ want to read from the report of the
commander-in-ch chief. Reading) The
Viscaya was still under the fire of the
leading vessels; the Cristobal Colon had
drawn ahead, leading the chase, and
soon passed beyond the range of the
guns of the leading American ships.
The Viscaya was soon set on fire and
at Lilo she turned in shore and was
beached at Aserraderos, Is miles from
Santiago, burning f1ercely, etc.
'I have no doubt you read it cor
rectly''
(which is correct? If there is con-
f1ict between the commander-in-chief
at the time the Viscaya went ashore
his at 11:15-it becomes a material
point to us which one of these speci-
fications is correct
1.-The time given in that report OF
mine was furnished by the navigator
and executive officer of the ship. 1, of
course, did not take the time
Mr.. Rayner then questioned the wit
ness as to the speed the Iowa was
Maria Teresa went ashore. The latter
replied that he could only say the ship
was going as fast as they could make
her 60 He thought she must have
been going 912 knots an hour In this
connection Mr.. Rayner asked a num-
ber of questions, intended to show that
the admirars official reports and his
present statements as to speed were not
consistent. Mr.. Rayner's point was
that the official report showed accord
ing to measurements, that the Iowa
had made eight miles in half an hour.
but the admiral said that while this
might be true according to the land
measurements, it must be borne IN
mind that he was running course at
sea. Admiral Evans was also ques-
toned as to mis- statements concerning
the distance -he blockading vessels
were out at night. He said yesterday
that the vessels of the blockadinS
squadron were further out at night
than during the day. and Mr.. Rayner
read previous statement from him to
the effect that tat daylight we closed
in
This the witness said was the exact
fact That after being out farther at
night the vessels came in closer at
daylight He said that in steaming
back and forth at night, the vessel, just
ahead could be seen, but not the vessel
at the head of the column. The Mar
blehead farther in, could occasionally
be seen but the Vixen never.
''While before Cienfuegos, or on the
way to Santiago, did you have any or
ders for battle?" asked Mr.. Hanna.
NO. responded the witness. 1--WE
steaned in column, with ffankers on
each side"
Had you any instructions as to
what to do in case the enemy should
appear?"
1--WE had not"
NEWSPAPER MAN CALLED.
Admiral Evans was then excused and
Mr. Thomas M Dieuaide a newspaper