The age-herald., 1901-10-25

order in hopes that we might invite those people out. We knew there would be diff ficulty in getting in, as the flagship was of great draught. as were most of the other ships The channel was very crook |sed. and our only wish was that they might come out. The movements of the squadron were rather an invitation for them to do so. That was what I felt during all the period of this blockade.
 Lieutenant Wood has testified to con- versation which he said he had had with me in relation to the delivery of dis patches which. for the life of me I can not recall. and have deal of recollec- tion. and I am glad to say, very little imagination. Lieutenant Wood when he came on board was almost prostrated His condition to me was pitiable. Not from fear. but from the exhaustion of torpedo service. and I told him when he came over the side that if I were king I would promote every torpedo officer five grades If I could.
 Denies Woods Statement.
 He handed me the dispatch. I think he did me an injustice when he spoke of my speaking disrespectfully of Admiral Sampson. I used no such terms. There was no reason why I should have done so. invariably spoke of him as Admiral Sampson. and I do not recall one word of the conversation which he recites; not -one word. and recollect a good many things very well.
 The admiral then told of the arrival of the Hawk on the morning of May 23 bringing dispatch No. S.. This is the dis patch from Admiral Sampson which had brought the information that the Spanish fleet was probably at Santiago, and in which Commodore Schley had been told that If satisfied they were not at Glen fuegos to proceed with all dispatch to Santiago" In this dispatch was enclosed the McCalla memoranda saying that a good landing place could be secured thirteen miles west of Cienfuegos With regard to Commander Hoods testimony concerning the delivery of these dis patches the admiral said he did not re- member. and" he went on. T think can show you by a memorandum in the official government report that if he had any verbal orders he forgot to report them This memoranda had run to the effect that Hood had said there are a good many officers here who do not be- lieve the Spaniards are there That" said the admiral. goes to show that Hood was not very certain or that If he had the information he did not deliver it to the commander-in-chief which was an indiscretion. He seems to have remem- bered a good deal that was said by me. but to have forgotten a good deal that he should have done.'
 The witness also told of the arrival of the British ship Adula. and of his having that vessel boarded and his allowing if to proceed inside. He also told of the re- port which the Adula brought to the eff feet that the Spanish fleet had arrived at and later had left Santiago, which he said lent color to his own belief at that time"
 The witness stated that he had seen the signals on shore. and he explained his experience in this respect
 He said the surf was dangerous there in the day time. Continuing, Admiral Schley said:
 Was Not Told of Signals.
 Not knowing whether or not there were any insurgents to the west of this place; not having communicated to me any idea that there was a system of signals arranged with them, though I asked the question; the withdrawal of the squadron of Captain McCalla, and the failure of Lieutenant Sutherland to give me that information. was directly respon- sible for the delay in communicating. To risk boat through the surf. on a coast believed to be occupied by the enemy might have repeated Captain McCalla's experience. He found the coast was pret- ty we'll occupied saw cavalry on the coast once or twice. They appeared for a moment and then got out of sight. I thought to waste ammunition on soli- tary cavalryman was like wasting big guns on sparrows. wanted to save all the ammunition we had for use against the enemy's squadron. which knew to be somewhere in the vicinity. did every thing that was possible during the time we were there to maintain a blockade as