Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Witnesses At the Court Of Inquiry
Today All Give Favorable
Testimony.
Lieut.. Sears Gives an Account
d the Blockade Of Cuban
Ports.
Bsmbardment Of the Colon De.
velopsd Spanish Land Bat
teries Were Strong.

Eeeu recalled ana naQ mace tAe NeIpai
corrections necessary in their testimony
they were promptly dismissed.
Lieutenant Commander James II.
Sears, who was schley's flag officer on
board the Brooklyn during the war With
spain, was called and testified to many
details connected with the campaign and
was promptly succeeded by a number OF
other naval officers. who served on the
Brooklyn. Schley thinks It is quite prob.
obie that the presentation Of testimony
In his behalf can be completed this week
end next. He viii be the last OF the Wit
resses to be heard, and when he goes on
VIII make a review Of the entire cam
paiRn, covering the points in contro-
versy.
Eduorado Nunez, the Cuban pilot, was
among those who were called to correct
their former testimony. He added to
his statement yesterday that he had
seen the Brooklyn firing May 81. the day
81 the bombardment OF the Colon,
whereas the records chow the vessel
was at the time coaling and did nor
participate in the engagement. He also
nade correction in his former state
ent concerning q conversation with
mmodore schley on first meeting
m.
}"During the conversation had with
shley said. not that the water was
It deep enough, but that in accordance
Mh Information had in Kingston. in
y lard to the dimensions OF the Spanish
slps. they were Of such large size they
hid not get In the harbor, in consider
Hon Of the narrowness OF tht channel,
4 III the quick turn they had to make
EDiamond shoal in the front entrance
IA still believe vessels OF such size
"a not enter Santiago. not being under
3 most favorable conditions as to
ather. I wac asked by Schley Il
bhxht his flag ship could enter the
1rarbor and I ans swered I did not con-
slider it advisable. for the conditions be-
fore mentioned, because there We're no
buoys to mark the channel, for the
Spaniards had picked them up to pre-
vent the American feet from coming in
port, besides they had many torpedo
lines across the entrance"
Lieut., Commander Sears followed
Nunex. He said when the flying squad
ron arrived of Cienfuegos he knew
nothing OF the code signals for COM
with the Cuban insurgents
Concerning the McCalla memorandum
he said 1t had been brought to Schley
by the Hawk and by no other vessel to
his knowledge. Commander Sears gave
4 detailed account OF the encounter with
the British steamer Adula. He said:
"The Adula arrived off port and was
boarded at hrst under orders from
Schley by the Castine. After Captain
Berry Of the Castine had made his re-
port to the commodore, he sent one OF
the onicers OF the Brooklyn aboard her.
After he had returned and made his re-
mort the commodore redirected me go
abroad the Adula and see II could
contrive in some manner to induce the
captain Of Adula, an Englishman. to
nut himself out a little to tell US some
thing about what was going on inside.
1.-THE captain said he would be very
Rlad to do 1t. He suggested that when
he came out on the next day we should
bring him to with shot, so that any
body observing 1t from the shore would
see he was acting under force, and any
body who could speak Spanish could
find out all they pleased from the refu-
gees sle had no board"
Did he come out next day?"
'He did not
witness said schley had told him Nc
Gala had brought code of signals for
communication with insurgents on the
ehore near Cienfuegos. Describing the
Blockade Of Cienfuegos Sears said it had
been maintained from one to four miles
out. The Dupont was stationed inside.
with instructions to keep close into the
mouth of the harbor and maintain a
careful watch, reporting any suspicious
Incidents. Witness in giving details of
the cruise from Cienfuegos to Santiago
said the weather was boisterous, with a
heavy sea and coaling at sea would not
have been safe before May 27, when it
was undertaken. He said on the voyage
the squadron had been delayed by the
Eagle and other small boats. and the
ehips had also been slowed up on one
occasion when merchant vessel was
siRhted: also collier had to stop sew
eral times to make repairs on machin-
cry.
With reference to the blockade at
Santiago witness said it had been main
tanned at varying distances OF from
I0ree 10 IIIllSS, SAAS
er-in-chief. In thick weather and at
night the distance was less than IN fair
weather and the day time. Witness de-
scribed the reconnaissance May 81 when
the Colon was fired upon, and said 1T
had developed the strength of the land
batteries. They proved to be stronger
than he had supposed they were. Schley
told him that his purpose was to ascer-
tain what the batteries We're. He said
he had been with Lieut.. Pottson of the
Massachusetts and had not heard any
conversation between that officer and
5Schley.
In describing the engagement OF July .
witness said he was not positive who
gave the order hard aport,' but
thought Schley had said "hard aport.
and Capt. Cook said Its hard aport."
Said he gave only sufficient attention to
the Texas when the Brooklyn made the.
turn to see there was no danger Of a COL
lision between the two vessels He