Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-06
SCHLEYS SIDE
IS PRESENTED.
Capt. Parker Opens Case for the
Applicant.
PRAISES ADMIRAL'S COURSE
Had Not Finished when Court ADJ
Journed Hanna Concludes Opening
Argument for Navy Department

partnent, which had been begun yes
:erday and Capt. james Parker begar
but did not conclude his presentation O
the case OF Admiral Schley.
Mr.. Hanna today considered the ret
rograde movement, the bombardmen
of the Colon and the charge mad
against Admiral Schley of disobedienc
Of orders. Capt. Parker had onl,
reached the coallng question when tn
court adjourned He defended the con
duct Of his client at all stages Of tn
campaign so far as he went. II Is ea
pected that Capt Parker will concud
MS speech tomorrow, when Mr.. Ray
nor will begin.
MR.. HANNAs ARGUMENT.
When the court OF inquiry convened
this morning, Mr.. Hanna took UP thu
question OF the coal supply OF the fly
ing squadron and from that entered
upon discussion Of the blockade OF
Santiago, and the reconnaissance OF May
81, when the Spanish ship Colon was
bombarded as she lay In the harboi
of Santiago. MI. Hanna spoke IN calm
and dispasslonate terms and generally
conception Of the purport of the tes-
timony.
In opening Mr.. Hanna briefly re-
verted to the cruise Of the flying squad
ron from Cienfuegos to Santiago for
&c CHI No.
the Vixen nor the Merrimac had been
the cause OF delay ON the voyage
He continued his discussion OF the
retrograde movement, saying that but
one explanation had been siven for it
IN Admiral Schley's dispatch, namely,
the inadequacy OF the coal supply, al
though In his testimony before this
court Admiral Schley gave four reasons
for leaving his station Off Santiago,
Mr. Hanna contended that while
Commodore Schley was acting under
the orders contained IN dispatch No s.,
when the retrograde movement began
May &C. that order was superseded by
the dispatches delivered on the Brook
Ign, May q, by Capt. Cotton In COM
mand Of the Harvard, and In one Of
which It was said that ar the de-
partment's information indicates the
Spanish division is still at Santiago de
Cuba and 70 which the order was
added "The department looks 10 you
to ascertain the fact that enemy,
therein, does not leave without a de
cisiye action"
TOOK ISSUE WITH scHLEY.
Mr. Hanna took issue with Admiral
Schey that this was suggestion and
not a mandatory order. so far from
being suggestive, doubtful or uncertain
are the terms OF this order that they
approach the verge of reproof," said
Mr.. Hanna. Their incisive distinct
ness Is notable so much so that think
Few subordinate officers, having turned
their backs on task to which they
had been assigned, would care to be
arrested in such act by Geographic
order from a superior couched In such
terms"
Mr., Hanna quoted Admiral Schley's
dispatch of May n, in which he ex-
perienced regret over not being able
TO obey orders. saying that as II was
written after the Cotton dispatch had
beeen received 1T was an explicit con-
fessiOn that the Cotton telegram was
an order" Commenting upon this dis
patch he declared that II was "the
most remarkable one to be found In the
annals OF the American navy"
He contended that the repairs to the
Merrimac could nave been made. as
they were, without going to Key West,
and that the Texas was not in severe
straits for fuel. AS TO the Vixen, she
was not a fighting ship and could have
been sent for coal. He asserted that
The weather was rough only on May
%. and that therefore Commodore
Schley's assertion that the weather
had been boisterous and the sea rough
ever since leaving Key West was un-
justified by the facts.
WHAT THE LOGS SHOW.
referring" he said, ito the indls-
putable fact of The squadron logs, II |
appears that the Brooklyn had re- |
manned on blockade about thirty-two |
days, the MASSACHUSETTS about twenty |
four days. the Iowa eighteen days, the |
Texas forty-six days, and the Marble |
head six days retaining still coal |
enough TO reach Gonaives. Hayti, a |
point where. by Admiral Schley's own
testimony. he could have c0aled the |
smaller vessels In the ports and the |
arger ones of the coast"
The speaker also controverted the |
statement made IN his dispatch to the
department. TO the effect that II is
not possible 10 cruise toward Cape
-ruz In summer owing TO south Winds
quoting several witnesses to show that
he wind was not from the southwest.
DlfnIlnu ~ Inn fts.t ha |
dispatch, 1T Is 10 be regretted that the
departments orders cannot be obeyed."
Mr. Hanna remarked, Most undoubt-
IDLY. IL was a critical time, and the
action OF Commodore Schley In aban-
loning his station before Santiago,
hus, as he himself states, falling to
'bey the departments orders. created
crave anxiety In our national coun-
,ils.'
Taking up the coal supply Of the
ieet as required by specification six Of
ne precept. Mr.. Hanna said; From
he testimony OF commanding and other
'fficers OF the Brooklyn and Iowa, the
Massachusetts, the Marblehead and the
Executive and other officers OF the
Texas and from The steam logs OF those
essels II would appear that fully and
o"IitAtit dr any ttCt Gun De SHOWN |
" evidence II has been established
hat the flying squadron was. on May
T. lsS, fairly well equipped with coal"
SPECIFICATION SEVEN.
Specification No. was next consld-
red. This requires an inquiry as to
neither every proper effort was made
D capture the Colon as that vessel lay
4 the hafbor al Santiago and referring
D IL Mr. Hanna said.
Certain cauti0nary orders. some OF
hem confidential IN their character. is
ued by the department 10 Rear-Ad-
liral Sampson aiI printed in the rec
I'd OF proceedings and also in the APP
endlx OF the bureau OF navigation.
ave been cited 40 forbldding the ex-
,sure Of vessels TO the flre of batteries,
nd as justifying Commodore SchIeys
)nduct Of the so-called reconnaissance
May 81. Assuming that the substance
these orders "as communicated 10
commodore Schley by Admiral samp-
IN at Key West on the 18th OF May,
I'D II is clear that they have no appli-