The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-24

w tuus 5Cpt. G1.-1nS paEt VlNytD by. the battleship Texas in the naval bat.
 tie off Santiago July 3. 1898. in which tn, Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera wal
 sunk. was the basis of the greater pari | of today's proceedings in the Schley maya | court of inquiry. Of the four witnesses examined during the day, three had beer officers on board the Texas during ths battle. and two of them were new wit. nesses. These were Commander George c. Meilner. who was navigator on ths Texas. and Commander Alex B. Bates
 who was the chief engineer on that bat tleship. Commander Harber. executive officer and the chief surviving officer. oi the ship since the death of Captain Philip
 was recalled. The fourth witness wal Commander Seaton Schroeder. executive officer on the Massachusetts, and now Governor of the Island of Guam
 The testimony several times during the day was somewhat exciting and was es- pecially so when Commander Heilner de- Sad taken in M Hs said wRsn tSs lyn made it's loop at the beginning of the battle. 1t had passed across the Texas's s bows at distance not to exceed 100 or tain Philip the Texas had been brought to a dead stop. Engineer Bates testified that the starboard engines had been stop ped and said he thought this also had happened to the port engines. Comman- der Heilner expressed the opinion that three miles had been lost by this manoeu- yer. and that part of the machinery was deranged. He said that he considered that the Texas was in greater danger when the Brooklyn crossed her bows than at any other time during the battle.
 On cross-examination Commander He'll ner admitted having taken part in the preparation of the official Navy Depart ment chart showing the positions at dif- ferent times of the ships which partfci- pated in the battle. He said. according nearer than 500 yards from each other. But he contended the chart was inaccu- rate and he said he had only consented Bates admitted that the log of the Texas contained no record of the signal to re- verse the engines.
 Commander Schroeder testified concern ing the coal supply of the Massachusetts. which, he said, would have been sufsicient Tor a blockade of from sixteen to twenty days.
 controversy between counsel as to the
 policy. of bringing Admiral Sampson's name into the trial
 Acoustics of Room Improved.
 The members of the schley naval court of inquiry found the accommodations of the tool shop at the navy yard some Wat ,bs improved whsT thsy met there rat at long bare room which hitherto had been open from floor to roof. had been. fin np- pearance. at least, completely transform ing of plain white cloth. This had the effect also of improving the acoustics of the hall, so that the court and others had less difficulty than formerly in hear
 The members of the court were prompt as usual in reaching the navy yard, but when they arrived they found Captain Lemiey and his assistant. MT. Hanna. already there busiIy engaged in getting ready for the days work.
 Among the witnesses who reported this morning were Rear Admiral c. s Cotton, Bates and Schellner: Captains 3. H. Me- Calia and William c. Wise and Lieu.en- ants John Hood and Spencer S. Wood.
 Admiral Schley and his counsel arrived stated today that the Navy Department has no intention at present of bringing Admiral Sampson to Washington as a witness or to participate in any other
 The hands of the old-fashioned hall clock standing back of the court pointed to the hour of Il o'clock when Admiral Dewey with a sharp rap Of his gavel that time a somewhat larger attendance of the public than there had heretofore been at the beginning of the sittings, but there were fewer distinguished person. ages occupying the reserved seats.
 Captain Temley presented the deck log books of the Brooklyn. Texas, Iowa, Gas tine. Marblehead. Massachusetts,, Min neapolis, New Orleans, Oregon. St. Paul. Scorpion, Vixen, Eagle. Dupont, Hawk ahd Merrimac.
 How about the New York" asked Judge Wilson. l want to expedite the
 T have no objection" responded Cap tain Lemley. "I too want to hasten the proceedings as much as possible"
 Proceeding, Captain Lemley said he had suggested such logs as he considered es- sential and he would have printed the points considered pertinent He then in- dlcated the time that he desired covered by the matter to be printed, but Admiral Schley's counsel objected and asked that the entire logs from the time the fleet left Key West until after the battle on be made available. After come | exchanges of opinion on the part of the | the understanding was reached | that such parts of the logs as either side | desired could be printed. steam logs of the Brooklyn. Texas, Mas | sachusetts. Iowa and the Marblehead.
 Log of Spanish Ship.
 Admiral Schley's counsel asked to have he log of the Spanish ship Christobol
 "Very well. if we can find a Spanish facts wanted" said Captain Lemley.
 Admiral Schley is a good Spanish scholar. and he can make such selections as we may desire" responded MT. Ray nor.
 Commander Schroeder was recalled andI asked If he desired to make any correc- tions in the official record of his testimo- ny of Saturday.
 "Thcre is one omission from Admiral remarks on the Massachusetts on the day of the bombardment of the Colon which overheard which l should like to supply" he rplied, Ut Is this: He said when he came aboard that Admiral Samp- son would be there on the following day. He made that statement in connection with his remark that he was going in to sink the Colon"
 Commander Schroeder was then asked concerning the coal supply of the Massa- and when he replied that he had no information on that point he was ask ed to read the log to secure this informa- ton. Counsel for Admiral Schley object | Insisted, saying that Admiral Schley's | counsel were merely creating delay by | their objections.
 "I propose to develop the fact in this | ease and technical objections will not | avail to prevent" he said.
 The objection to the question vas rot pressed. Upon reading from the leg Schroeder said it showed that the Massachusetts had over 800 tons of coal aboard when 1t came to Santiago.
 Mir Hanna: Assuming that the Mas 70 to 70 tons of coal per day, how long could the Massachusetts remain on block ade before Santiago with that supply of ,oaI?'
 ''That would depend upon whether we would have to so some distance to rerleE-