The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-30
A DRAG IN INQUIRY
LEMLY CONSUMES WHOLE DAY IN
QUESTIONS.
ASKS FOR SCHLEY'S MOTIVES.
PRODS ADMIRAL ABOUT LACK OF
PLANS OF BATTLE.

He SI<ips About From Pillar to Post
in the Effort to Confuse SchIey
and Catch Him Mapping, but Fails
to Do SO-The Admiral Finally Gets
Weary of This and Replies TartIy.
He Holds That His General In
struction to officers of the Fleet
Were Sufficient, and That No spe-
cific Plans Were Required.
Washington, Oct. 2S.-The cross-ex-
animation of Admiral Schley was con-
tinued throughout the session of the
court of inquiry to-day. The progress
made was exceedingly slow. Practically
the whole day was consumed in ques-
tioning the admiral ABOUT the cruise
from Cienfuegos to Santiago and the
motives and influences that governed
him in turning back after his squadron
had arrived in the vicinity of the latter
port.
This latter branch of the cross exam
ination had not been concluded when
the court adjourned. The blockade of
Santiago the reconnaissance on May
to be covered. 1t is hardly probable
that the judge advocate will conclude
before adjournment tomorrow. After
he finishes quite a number of questions
prepared by the members Of the court
will be submitted.
Capt. Lemly in conducting the cross
examination used carefully prepared
typewriter list of questions. They
called for comparison of statements
Admiral Schley has made either in di-
rect testimony, in his communication
to the Senate, or in his dispatches to
Admiral Sampson or the Navy Depart
ment, with the testimony of witnesses
who have preceded him, and the logs
and signal books of the other vessels
of the fleet. The questions were not
asked in chronological order, but
jumped from one subject to another
and from one stage of the campaign
to another. Throughout the strain to
which the admiral naturally was SUBJ
jected while under examination, the
admiral retained his customary COM
posure. Only once or twice did he dis
play impatience or WEAKNESS. At one
point. when asked question, he re-
piled that he had been asked the same
question yesterday, at the same time
telling what his reply had been then
On another occasion when he was be-
ing searchingly interrogated as to his
distances from shore at Cienfuegos and
as to whether the distances were
matter of record he responded rather
tartly:
"Oh, no. did not know they would
have ever become a matter of such
great Importance, or l should have
plotted them and made a memoran
dunn, as 1 should of many other
things"
The Main Points Yesterday.
The main points to which the cross
examination was directed to-day were
the ability of the ships to coal off
Cienfuegos and the reason for what is
known as the "retrograde movement"
The latter point was dwelt upon with
much emphasis and detail and had not
been disposed of fully when the court
adjourned. The Admiral gave three
reasons for turning back-first, the
statement of Capt. Sigsbee, who COM
manded the scout ship st. Paul, that
the enemy was not in Santiago; sec
ond, the opinion of Nunez, the pilot,
that the entrance was too narrow and
shallow for the Spanish ships to enter,
and third, the ambiguity of the depart
ments telegram. In the course of the
cross-examination Admiral Schley said
he regarded the departments dispatch
rather as suggestion than as an ex-
plicit order, a suggestion which he car
ried out after the sea had abated and
the coal supply of the ships had been
replenished.
After some preliminary questions
Capt. Lemly asked If the war bulletin
brought by the Adula to Cienfuegos
had not stated that the Spanish fleet
had left Santiago on May 20. This.
Admiral Schley admitted, was true
as he did also that he had said that
the distance from Cienfuegos to San
tiago was from 36 to 48 hours. Then
Capt. Lemly asked:
"Would not the fact that from 36 to
4s hours was necessary in covering this
distance have brought the Spaniards
to Cienfuegos after your arrival
there?"
Il did not wish to be understood
that that time would have been neces-
sary for the Spaniards to make the
VOYAGE. ] meant simply to give the
time consumed by the Flying Squadron
in making the voyage"
Had Cervera's fleet appeared during
the nights you were at ClentuegOS
either coming out or coming In from
seaward, what, under your instruc-
tions, would your fleet have done?'
SchIey Causes n Stir.
knocked them out" "a stir in the
COURT.
what were your instructions?"
ITO follow the hag-instructions
given at Hampton Roads"
But what were your instructions?"
There were none. do not consider
that the regulations or custom required
written instructions"
isn't it the unwritten law at sea In
the navy that vessels in squadron shall
follow the hag?"
"It is"
Capt. Lemly asked number Of ques-
tions about coaling, in an attempt to
show that Admiral Schley had report
ed IL impossible 10 blockade Santiago
on account of short coal supply. al
though he had coaled several Of the
ships. Questions were also asked about
the use Of signals on leaving Cienfue-
gos Capt. Lemly asked:
when you left Cienfuegos where
did you think the Spanish squadron
was ?"
Il dld not. OF course. know exactly
where IL was. II I had I would have
gone efralVhf for IL According 70 the