Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-11-02
SCHLEY STILL ON STAND
Was Cross-Examined by Judge Ad-
vocate LemIey.
HIS DIRECT EVIDENCE ENDED
Admiral Schley Regarded Certain Orders from
Sampson as Confidential, and Did Not
GIVE Them to Captains Unwise
TO Abandon Vessels.

DTlef cOrTecIiOu OF testimony Dy Lieu
tenant Commander Harlow, Rear Ad.
miral Schley continued his testimony.
When he left the stand last Friday
his direct testimony and examination
had been almost concluded. and after
few questions had been asked by Mr..
Rayner, his counsel, he was placed
in the hands of Judge Advocate Lemly
and Mr. Hanna for cross-examination.
The judge advocate asked the admiral
IL he had furnished each captain with
a plan of battle.
Verbally, yes"
'But not in writing?"
Il did not think the regulations re
quired it"
did you communicate to your cap
tains your confidential instructions
from Admiral Sampson not to expose
your ships to land batteries before the
destruction of the Spanish fieet?"
Il did not, because regarded them
as confidential"
"In your report you say that the
Iowa arrived off Cienfuegos May %.
Although she started a day later, did
she not arrive only about five hours
after the squadron"
although we did not go in during
the night, l considered that we ar
rived off Cienfuegos May 81"
when did you first see the entrance
to Cienfuegos?"
"a little after daylight, May o."
The judge advocate called the adj
miTafs attention to his statement to
the senate that while on the bridge OF
the Brooklyn on the afternoon of
May 81, being then about 80 miles
from Cienfuegos. he heard big guns
fired with the regularity of salute.
The admiral Stated that he remem-
bered the incident distinctly. He did
not know the exact distance. He did
not consult the log
Does not the log show that you
were rs miles from the harbor?"
al do not know The admiral then
proceeded to explain that the com
mnnication sent the senate was got
ten up hurriedly and largely from
memory in the closing days of the
session, and he may have made some
slight mistakes.
Captain Lemly asked the witness
to look at the signal book of the
Brooklyn for May % and to read a
signal which had been made at 5.35
a. m. by the Texas to the flagship
This he did, reading as follows:
"'Please tell me what we have to
do to-day $40 p. m. Flagship to
Texas When we get close 20 the
port we will blockade it and unite,
but will keep under way ready for
anything"
Shi1s Always Cleared For Action.
In answer to a question from Cap
tain Lemly regarding the orders Clear
ship for action" Admiral Schley ex-
planned that the ships were practi-
oally cleared for action all the time.
but that there was always a certain
amount of paraphernalia aboard the
ships to prevent persons falling over
board or awnings which had to be re-
moved. and that was what he
had in mind when he signaled to
"Clear ship for action"
when did it first occur to you that
there had been firing at Cienfuegos?"
Nv hen ii occurred.
when did you mention it to 9th
ers?7
"At the time"
"Did you make signal to the fleet
about it?"
81 think So"
"When2"
1.-THE next day, think"
docs not the log say it was on the
2Sd?"
Perhaps it might have been on
that day"
After consulting the log the ad-
miral said it was on the Odd, and he
made its connection with notifica-
zion to the feet that the Adula would
be allowed to enter At o'clock the
court took a recess until o'clock.
After the recess the judge advocate
continued his cross-examination of
Admiral Schley.
He then reverted to the confidential
orders received from Admiral Samp-
son, and called the witness attention
TO article 269 of the regulations, re-
curing the commander of a squadron
TO communicate his secret instruc-
lions TO the captains under him.
81 regarded the instructions as con-
fidential." said the admiral. The wit
ness was then closely questioned
about the time of the receipt of the
Dear Schley" letter, which the ad-
miral declared was received May %.
according to his best recollection.
"But in your letter to the senate
you said that this letter came to you
on the 23d and confused the situa-
ton"
"That is fact"
"But if it came on the 22d?"
"As l have stated before, | wrote
the communication to the senate from
memory. The point was that at that
time had not received order No 8"
The judge advocate then called the
attention Of the witness to his state
ment that when he saw the signals
at NiaufuaoOs he did NOT understand