The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-12
FEATURES OF HIS TESTIMONY
MUCH OF 1T RELATED TO DIS
PATCHES M SIGNALS.
SIMPSONS COngratuIatOry Dispatch
to SchIey Not Approved by the
New YOrk's Captain.

and who also was chief Of the admirals
staff during the war with Spain, testified
before the Schley naval court for a short
time this afternoon He was the last
witness called, and when the court ad-
journed was still under cross-examination
by Mr.. Rayner, who stated he had only a
few more questions TO ask him. There
was considerable interest in Captain Chad
wick's appearance because of his close re-
lationship to the commander-in-chief Of the
North Atlantic squadron.
Captain Chadwick's testimony related
very largely to dispatches sent by Ad-
miral Sampson to Commodore Schley while
the latter lay off Cienfuegos in May, 1905,
and to the code of signals agreed on be-
tween Captain McCalla, Of the Marblehead,
and the Cuban forces operating near Glen
fuegos. He said this code had not been
sent to Commodore Schley by dispatch be-
cause Captain McCalla had expected to join
the commodore Immediately and communi-
cate the code to him. He also told of being
present at an interview between Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley, in which
the latter had expressed his intention TO be
loyal to the commander-in-chief. He re-
lated in detail the change of opinion con-
corning the whereabouts of Cervera's fleet
by Admiral Sampson on May p between
the sending of the two dispatches of that
date by Admiral Sampson TO Commodore
Schley, one of which was dated at Key
West and the other at Havana. Captain
Chadwick said he had not approved Ad-
miral SIMPSONS dispatch Of May Is con-
graduating Commoder Schley on his ac-
cOmplishments 10 that date.
Five other witnesses were heard uring
the day, two Of them being officers of the
New York. One of these was Lieut.. c. c..
Marsh, the flag secretary Of Admiral Samp-
son, who testified concerning dispatches to
Commoder Schley, and the other was the
ships flag lieutenant, Lieut.. E. L. Bennett.
Lieut.. Theodore G.. Dewey, a nephew of
Admiral Dewey, who served on the Mas
sachusetts, Lieut.. Adelbert Althouse. also
of the Massachusetts,, and Lieut.. Francis
Boughter, who served on the Marblehead.
were the other new witnesses of the day.
ADMIRAL TAYLOR RECALLED.
Among the witnesses called early to-day
for the purpose OF correcting testimony
was Admiral H. c.. Taylor. While he was
on the stand he was questioned as to
whether he had received information that
the Spaniards were coming out of the har-
Dor at Santiago before they made their APP
p%earance on the morning of July 3. The
question was asked by Captain Lemly. and
the answer was: None whatever"
Captain Lemly read a report from Captain
Merrill Miller, formerly of the Raleigh
concerning the accuracy of the stadimeter.
This report was dated in 1895, and stated
that the stadimeter had been found to give
accurate results in measurements of less
than 800 yards, but not SO when the dis
lance was greater. In one case the writer
noticed an error Of 200 yards in q 6O0-yard
measurement.
Lieutenant Adelbert Althouse. formerly
watch and division officer on the battleship
Massachusetts, was then called. He said
that on the day of the bombardment of the
Cristobal Colon he had been in charge of
the eight-inch turret of the Massachusetts.
He said the ship had not been TO exceed
three minutes in passing the entrance to
the harbor on the first passage, and that
only two shots were then fired. The in
structions were to make the range 1000
yards, but the shots fell short and the
range was increased on the return trip to
$500 yards and then to 10000 yards. Asked
what was developed as to the strength of
the and batteries by this reconnaissance.
he said that to his mind it was shown they
were very weak.
In reply to a question as to whether he
had made any notes concerning the engage
ment, he replied: mo; we went in under
Instructions TO sink the Colon" His or
ders had been to direct his fire at that YES
sci.
Captain Lemly introduced as evidence the
reports made by Commodore Schley 10 the
secretary Of the navy Of the engagement Of
May 81. In one of these, dated June 3,
Commodore Schley said: Reconnaissance
was intended principally to injure and de-
stroy the Colon. The fire was returned
without delay by the heavy batteries to
the east and the west entrance; large
caliber, long range; reconnaissance develop
ing satisfactorily the presence of the Span
ish squadron lying behind island near inner
fort, as they fired over hill at random.
Quite satisfied the Spanish fleet is there"
LIEUT.. DEWEY'S TESTIMONY.
Lieutenant p. G. Dewey, nephew of Adj
miral Dewey, who was a watch officer on
the Massachusetts, was the next witness.
He placed the distance of the blockading
line under Commodore Schley from the
mouth Of Santiago harbor at from five to
eight miles, the distance being about the
same day and night. There was, he said,
no particular formation of the vessels. Re
| plying TO questions concerning the attack
on the Colon, he said the range at which he
had fired his guns on that occasion at first
was 1000 yards under orders, and then he
had increased it to $500 yards, but that all
the shots fell short. He said the Spanish
shore batteries had not given the American
ships much trouble on that occasion.
In reply TO a question by the court as to
whether ne was ordered to direct his fire
on the Colon or on the batteries on May
81. Lieutenant Dewey said that his orders
were 10 attack the Colon directly, but he
could not say whether Commodore Schley
or Captain Higginson had given the order.
Lieut.. Francis Boughter, who was watch
and division oGicer on board the Marble
head during Commodore Schley's blockade
Of Santiago, was then called. He said that
during that time the Marblehead and Vixen
were on picket duty between the shore line
and the line OF the blockade. the Marble
head being stationed three miles from the
shore and to the westward, six miles from
| the MORO. He would not attempt TO say
how far outside the squadron was. but he
could not see the ships after nightfall. In
reply 10 questions he said If the enemy had
had kept close in shore the picket ships
would not have been able TO see Spanish
vessels.
After a recess for luncheon Lieutenant
Boughter was excused and Lieut.. Ernst
Bennett, who was flag lieutenant on the
New York in 1S9S. was called TO the stand.
He said that when the North Atlantic
the flying squadron there. They stopped
about seven miles directly south Of the
harbOr, and the witness said he had seen
the Colon in the harbOr. He said also that
almost Immediately afterward the vessel
moved 10 the westward back of Caysmith.
This last statement. however. was stricken
from the record on the ground that such
testimony previously had been excluded.
The witness said the flying squadron was
at that time in irregular formation.
Captain Lemly said that he had called
Lieutenant Bennett not only for his direct
examination. but for full cross-examina-
ton in accordance with the precept. Mr..
Rayner stated. however, that he had no
questions 10 ask and the witness was eX-
4 c. Marsh, who was flag secretary TO Adj
miral Sampson during the Spanish war.