The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-10-04
COMMODORE SC.HLEY DID NOT
OBEY SIMPSONS ORDERS

Der testimony as wrong, Wnen zap
tain Harder had said distinctly that he
only spoke from his best recollection.
This" he said. lis an indirect i'm
parchment OF the witness"
Mr. Rayner again insisted that he had
only intended to bring out the facts.
Mr.. Hanna asked If steps had been
taken while the dying squadron was off
Cienfuegos to ascertain If the Spanish
fleet was inside the harbor there.
Not that [ know Of" was the re-
Spouse. s..
Was there any effort to destroy the
shore batteries there?"
TIT, witness replied that he knew of
none. He said, replying to another ques-
ton by Mr.. Rayner. that vessels In the
Neide' harbor c9uld not have been dis
cerned fran, efiie outside isr.
Lieutenant Wood was then dismissed,
and as ne was leaving the courtroom,
Mr.. Hanna took occasion to say:
II will make an announcement while
We are waiting. There has been intro
duccd before the court a question OF the
correctness OF the identity OF certain
very important dispatch sent by the
Harvard, May eth. from oft Santiago,
10y the commanding officer of the flying
squadron. II appears that In the process
of translation from the commander-in-
tlii'l " inc u'ktii soDlt CHdlibtS
in the language of that dispatch occur
red. / do not desire at this moment to
interrupt the proceedings by any discuss
sion of that point. but shall merely
make the announcement here that We dc
intend to enter into that matter very
fully and completely, that is to say. as
fully and as completely as the court
may desire before We leave it,"
| Lieutenant John Hood, who, during the
Il A .xx.l Ia
next witness. He said that on May 23d
he had delivered dispatches from Ad-
miral Sampson to Admiral Schley, when
the latter was of Cienfugos. He related
that he had been called aboard the New
York--Admiral SIMPSONS hagship-on
MAY olst, when the officers on board
We're preparing dispatches. He spoke OF
tn. presence of Admiral sampson. Mr..
Rayner objected to the introduction OF
conversation or of verbal orders, saying
that The orders would speak for them
selves, and must necessarily supersede
any verbal instructions. the question
was argued at some length by MIR. Ray
ner and Captain Lemly. In closing his
response, the Judge Advocate said:
AN objection of this character Is al
most equivalent to withdrawing the re-
quest for an investigation. lie has ask
ed to have the judgment OF his brother
and don't put technical distractions In
the way of having the investigation"
Mr.. Rayner responded briefly:
II only desire to state that while this
IL our investigation, these are your speci-
icatious under the precept. We asked
for this iuvos tigation, and instead OF
letting lis give. the precept under which
We would like to have the inquiry take
place, you form "a precept of your own
Here is an applicant who asks for a
court of inquiry under specifications
framed by others and not by himself
The court retired to consider the OBJ
lection, remaining out longer than or
any previous occasion. Admiral Dewey
read the courts decision, as follows:
The court sustains the objection OF
counsel so far as it relates to CONVERSE
tons that took place on board the New
York, but this ruling does not apply tc
any verbal orders which the command
er-in-chicf directed witnesses to convey
to Commodore Schley."
Replying TO u" question put In connec
ton with this decision, the witness sale
his instructions were contained In tn,
memorandum handed to him to be deliv
cred to Admiral Schley, which was reaG
to him.
The witness then read dispatch No. 8
from Sampson to Schley, of May 21st
telling the latter that the Spanish squad
ron was probably at Santiago. He also
read the Brooklyn receipt memorandum
showing that the dispatch, as well as the
accompanying memorandum had beer
received at sos "a. m, May 23d. The wit.
ness Identified these as the orders he had
carried. He also said that he had car.
ricd two other envelopes, one containing
orders from the department and the 9th
er memorandum which had not beer
read to him.
>. He said he arrived Off Cienfuegos a
= a. m, May 23d, and had gone aboar,
the Brooklyn for the purpose of deliver
Ing the dispatches. In response to a re
quest from the Judge Advocate, Lieuten
! ant Hood related the conversation he hat
had with Admiral Schley after deliverin.
, the orders, saying that he tthe witness
|, had told the Admiral that it was AID
miral Sampson's wish that the hyinl
squadron should proceed Immediately t
Santiago, as his information was yer.
} positive. His statement was as follows
. Commodore Schley read the dispatche
and then. turning to mo. said: Captain
: Admiral Sampson wishes me to go I,
, Santiago. ] cannot do it.
Il told Commodore Schley that the Ad
, miral certainly expected the squadron
to leave the instant / arrived. Comma
dore Schley then said. In nearly thes
words: Il am not at all satisfied that tn
Spaniards are not here ut Cienfuegos.'
. WASHINGTON, Sept. H.--In the Schle.
. court at 2:3o, Judge Advocate Leml,
read a letter from Admiral Sampson dat
ed at Lake Suuapee, N. H., Septembe
I'd asking that Messrs Stanton an,
Campbell he allowed to represent him ii
the case. The court decided that the!
could not aDDeaY