Evening journal., 1901-10-30
SCHLEY YBT
ON THR STAND
Closely IRterrOgated by Judge
AdVOCate Lemly
Examination Directed Mainly to Coal
log Question and What Is Known
as 'RetrOgrade Movement

liuucu tn-oNalDlt lue Session OF the
court OF inquiry yesterday The pro
fress made was exceedingly slow
Practically the whole day was con
sumed In questioning the admira
about the cruise from Cienfuegos tc
Santiago and the motives and infu
ences that governed him IN turning
back after his squadron had arrived
in the vicinity of the latter port. This
latter branch Of the cross-examination
had not been concluded when the
court adjourned The blockade at
Santiago, the reconnaissance on May
81. and the battle Of July 3 still re
main TO be covered. It is hardly
probable that the Judge advocate can
conclude before adjournment today
After he finishes. quite a number Of
questions prepared by the members
of the court viii be submitted The
Judge advocate. in conducting the
cro2s-examination, used a carefully
prepared type-written list of ques
TONS
The main points to which the cross
examination was directed yesterday
were the ability Of the ships to coal
off Cienfuegos and the reason for what
is known as the "retrograde move.
ment"
The latter point was dwelt upon
with much emphasis and detail. and
had not been disposed OF fully when
the court adjourned. The admiral
gave three reasons for turning back;
first. the statement Of Captain Sigs-
bee. who commanded the scout ship
st. Paul, that the enemy was not IN
Santiago; second, the opinion of
Nunez, the pilot, that the entrance was
too narrow and shallow for the Span
fish ships to enter and third, the am
biguity of the departments telegram.
coaling Taken Up.
"Why did YOU, on the day the Iowa
coaled from the Merrimac. May 80
inform Admiral Sampson that coal.
ing of Cienfuegos was very uncor.
tain?' asked Captain Lemly.
simply on account OF the weather"
"You coaled one of the battle.
ships?"
eyes"
Did you in the same dispatch in
form Admiral Sampson that one Of
the hattleships had been coaled on
that day."
q reported that fact to him On
May s0"
Referring to the blockade Of San
tiago. Captain Lemly asked the wit
ness why he had sent a dispatch TO
Admiral Sampson that "on account
of short coal supply cannot blockade
them (tho Spaniards) in Santiago"
Il meant that If we could not have
coaled of Santiago we could not have
stayed there"
did you state that condition."
'No I did not state that condition.
That was the impression in my own
mind"
What did you mean by the report
I shall not be able to remain OFF that
port (Santiego) on account OF general
short coal supply?"
II think al the vessels were more
or less short Of their complement and.
considering the fact that they ought
to be iit for any service and for every
service. that in arriving of the port
we ought to be more than half or
three-Quarters full"
How about the Brooklyn? She had
plenty of coal, aid she not?"
Il do not think there was ever any
question about the Brooklyn"
How about the Massachusetts"
"The Massachusetts and the Texas
were constantly solicitous about coal a"
Captain Lemly asked the admiral
to point out the signals of the Massa-
chusetts and Texas showing solicit
tude for coal, and also to include the
Iowa
In response the witness said that
when the Iowa arrived at Cienfuegos
she only had about half her coal sup
ply aboard and almost her first re.
quest was for coal from the collier.
did she get coal?"
"Yes; she took on about $50 tons. 4"
The start For Santiago.
"At what time did you learn def
nitely that the Spanish feet was not
in Cienfuegos?"
Upon Captain McCallas return
about p. m, May "a"
What time did you sail for San
tiago?"
My impression is that we formed
column between s and D. m. anC
stood of on a course south by cas-
and then stopped. leaving the Castin,
in front OF the harbor BY or
o'clock we got under way. laying ou
course southwest by south.
When his attention was called q
the fact that he had in a report sail
that the departure was timed at SIS
he said that not having the data be
fore him when he made that state
ment he had taken the information
from Captain McCalla's report. "Tha
statement" he said. referred to th
time Of the formation Of column, as
regarded that as a preliminary ste
to getting on"
Were there any signals2"
There were"
Was It dark when you got und,
way?"
4 don't remember entirely, but
must be borne in mind that dai