New-York tribune., 1901-09-26


Schey of Lieutenant BeaIls proposition on the
9TH because he would have considered that he was
remiss in his duty if he had not given the nforma-
! ton at the first opportunity He had then had be-
fore him the order of the department to Comrno-
dore schley to ascertain the facts concerning the
presence OF the Spanish feet in the harhor
NEW DISPATCH FROM SAMPSON.
Mr. Hanna here introduced copy of dispatch
from Rear-Admiral Sampson which had been re-
ceived by the Harvard and which had not heen
made public heretofore II was stated that this
message had been written on May % notation
it showed that it had been received on May %.
| The dispatch in cipher and was directed 70 the
Harvard at Mole ST Nicholas. 1t was translated
by Lieutenant Beall and presented read
The Spanish squadron at Santiago; If previous
to May 9 scout off Santiago wfdd
May "a at Santiago from Genf%egos :. TeIegTaph Eel g.s
move east and leave letter for sohley. Then go to
Santiago 70 meet him. I shall be at Cay Err Francis l
| should keep track of the Spanish squadron.
Admiral Cotton said that the copy which he had
read had been retained by him He added that II
! he had ever given that dispatch to Rear-AdmiraI
schley it had been the 9th and not on the $lst
| of May.
Mr.. Rayner here raised the point that the docu-
ment read was copy, and not the original lie
also called attention to the fact that the document
had not been printed in the official reports or the
| NAVY Department An animated controversy fol-
! lowed. in which Mr. Rayner commented upon the
| Gn his opinon) inaccuracy Of the department re-
! ports. He demanded the original dispatch' ana
| added:
.1,his is an inquiry and not a prosecution, and
you are here to protect and vindcate Admiral
Schley much are"
He said that Rear-Admral Schley had turned in
all his papers, and that Rear-Admral SIMPSONS
papers should also available for the purposes OF
the court. Captain LemIy then produced the orig
inaI cipher copy of the dispatch. He asked the
witness how he had received the message c ana the
board the Harvard at St. Nicholas Mole the DIS
patch of which this is translation Lieutenant
rs it a correct translation of the cipher?'
Did Beall state you or did he hand it to you
as cPreGe aHGe haf to e as correct translation of
the original dispatch in cipher. and believe 1t cor
NOW will ask, you whether according @ & to the the
best OF your HqwedSe and 6eef eYereyG aa youT on be
9th of May Commodore schey this dsn3attch?, n3t
yeFsa lae coes Sss' Of tPat bay dsPssh ssh Nay
q off Santiago Cuba and that Is one OF rnS as rs
the best of my knowledge delivered copy Of that
him and he was mentioned by name IN the DIS
Ultimately Mr. Rayner consented to accept the
copy as correct
\ QUESTION OF DUTY.
This point being settled. counsel for the depart
ment passed to the point concerning the proposition
of Lieutenant Beall to communicate with the Cuban
insurgents on shore, and in doing caused another
objection be raised by Mr.. Rayner The question
put by Mr. Hanna, who sad
Il will ask you whether you would have con-
sdered that you had discharged your whole duty.
having knowledge of this if you had not communi-
Gated with Commodore Schley?"
Mr. Rayner indicated objection saying: You
are not pressing question of that sort?"
To this Admiral Dewey interjected: THE witness
has already stated that very fact"
Mr.. Rayner-He gave that AS a reason for verify
ing his recollection but the question is asked here
whether he performed his duty
Admiral Dewey-As the witness said that he CON
sidered he had done his whole duty, think he has
azSse and ihf' thought how much mo we
wasting asking the same question over and over
again.
Mr. Hanna was not. however, entirely satisfied
with the status of the matter thus left and said
he did not ask for purposes OF repetition, but be-
| cause the question very important and had
! not been precisely answered We have. said he
IAN order from the department. saying: The de-
partment looks TO you to ascertain facts etc. We
wish to know whether this done not, and a
part, and essential of this is the sugges-
ton that the insurgents could have been communi-
Gated with.
Here comes the commanding officer OF the Har-
ward with offer. and ready made means OF com
! muncation with the insurgents We desire 20
| know whether that offer was communicated 70
| Commodore Schley "a that time and on the 25th
! OF May. not the 31st any other day In
order TO fix this witnesses recollection MS attention
! is directed to this question and It is very i'm
! portant question. Three years have elapsed. and
1t is necessary that such aids we can present 10
! witnesses be given The admiral has stated that
the best of his knowledge and belief he did have
| this conversation on May p. Now. | wish 10 ask
| you whether you knew Of this instruction of the
| Department."
| Il did
Il would like to know whether, knowing Of that.
| you consider by any possibility you would have
| omitted 70 communicate with Commodore Schley:'
Il should think not
| CAPTAIN WIsES STORY.
At 3:25 o'clock Rear-Admiral Cotton excused
and Captain William c. Wise. who was in com
mand of the auxiliary cruiser Yale during the sum-
mer of 1898, called to the witness stand. lie
| told Of his accommodating about Santiago Haroor
May 20 and May o. previous 10 the arrival of the
| Flying Squadron He said he had not been able TO
see anything of the Spanish feet. Captain Wise
related how he had come up with the Flying Squad
ron off Santiago. just II had begun it's retro
grade movement May 81, and told of his OK
change OF signals with Captain Philip Of the Texas
| Mr.. Hanna questioned him, asking:
"As / understood you. when you picked up the
FLYING Squadron. they were formed for the west
ward movement?
Yes" was the reply I'm other words. tho
| Texas had completed her turn and the Merrnac
was still in the turn"
did you pass any of the vesscls?'
II passed close to the Texas and exchanged ealu-
tations with Captain Philip. Captain Philip asked
! me where the Spanish squadron I answered
Navy Department said they in Santiago
He asked where thought they were 7 said
I firmly believe they in there"
Mr.. Rayner objected to this line OF testimony
saying that ii in the nature of report of
conversation between Captains Wise and Philip and
inadmissibe. The sustained the objection,
| and then put questions of its own, which,
gether with the answers were follows:
What information had you that led you to be-
lieve the Spanish squadron to be at Santiago
| May 27''
The information that received from