Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-30
ADMIRAL SAMPSON
CONTINUED from page ID

of this megaphone message having
been delivered, but it was explained
that the omission of many matters
from the log book not relating to the
movements of the ships was not un-
usual Commander Switzerland was
very positive in his statement that he
could have coaled his ship off Santiago
and declared that he protested earnest
ly to Schley against being ordered to
Port Antonio for that purpose.
On Capt. McCalla taking the witness
stand. to resume his testimony, Mr.
Hanna asked him:
Were any ships assigned to the
duty of engaging the batteries on the
morning of May 81, 1898. or during that
day or to the duty of enflading the
batteries"
None that l know Of
Did the battleships go within range
of the Colon?"
Not from my observation
Were you so situated as to observe
the fall of shots from the fleet?"
Il was. l think | saw every shot
fired. They all fell short. one nearly
reached the Colon
Capt McCalla testified at some
length concerning the weather and the
sea on May 26 and -. He said there
was no difficulty in coaling on the 9th,
as the sea was smooth.
The witness said that he had been
present during a conference of COM
manding officers on the Brooklyn while
the fleet was off Santiago on May %.
He said: 1T was with regard to the
work of blockade l can only remem-
Der one specific thing which took place
at the close, and that was that Capt
Evans asked Commodore Schley, If the
Spanish ships came out, if he was 60
ing to attack them?"
He said. certainly" and then ar
ranged for subdivision of fire from
the ships under his command on the
Spanish ships should they come out.
Mr.. Hanna-"Prior to that conferenc,
of May % had you at any time received
definite instructions respecting the or
der of battle or the mode of procedure
which the fleet should follow in case
the Spanish vessels should suddenly
appear"
Il do not remember"
Did you have any further converse
ton with Commodore Schley?"
Il had conversation with him in
his cabin after the battle of Santiago
about July 5, in Guantanamo bay.
went on board to make an official cal.
and to pay my respects, and during
the visit Commodore. Schley read mt
what / understood to be a part of hi:
official report of the battle. After ht
had finished | said, Commodore yoL
remember that after the battle of LAX,
Erie there was an unfortunate contro-
versy, and l hope there will be non,
after the battle of Santiago, because
there is glory enough for everybody
Referring to the fact that he had in
formed Capt Chadwick, Admira
SIMPSONS chief of staff. of the cod,
of signals arranged for communicating
with the insurgent Cubans, he sal
that he did not in any way communi-
cate with the COMMUNICATIVE chief
Mr.. Rayner then asked: Was it noj
your purpose that this communicable
should go to the commandments
through his chief of staff?''
Certainly" was the reply
The witness said he had failed I,
give the code to Commodore Schley
when he passed him when the com
modore was on his way to Cienfuego.
because he did not know that the com
modore was bound for that port.
Replying to Il question, Capt. Nc.
Gala said that Commodore Schley'.
fleet. while off Santiago. had never, t
his knowledge, been withdrawn to ar:
distance from the harbor of Santiago
Then said Capt Parker, tina
story. by whomsoever told, is abso
lUtely false
L object" shouted Capt. Lemly.
THE objection is sustained" sal
Admiral Dewey, the question is high
~ improper"
On redirect examination, Mr.. Hanna
asked capt. McCalla why he had with
drawn the Eagle from CienfucgCs b..
fore the arrival there of the fiyin.
squadron, ans he replied:
Being on the spot and knowing tt
conditions of the cul de sac at Glen
fuegos, | considered that it might use
1essly sacrifice the Eagle small shiI
She would have no escape from tt
funnel in which she would have beer
obliged to remain and would have beel
overpowered by two Spanish gunboats
which | knew to be in the harbor.
In reply to questions by Mr.. Hanna
Capt. McCalla' said that the memorar
dunn prepared by himself and quote
by Admiral Sampson in his report o
Aug. 3, 1898. as having been placed il
possession of Admiral Schley, containe
all the information except the secre
code. which he possessed concernin
the insurgents, when he arrived q
Key West on May 10.
Mr.. Hanna stated that his purpos
in asking this question was to develo
the TACT that the memorandum was i,
the hands of Commodore Sch,ey i,
time for him to have acted upon it be
fore leaving Cienfuegos for Santiago
The court asked the following uues;
tons:
What was the state of the sea be
tween May "a and 26, when the squad
ron was steaming to Santiago fror
Cienfuegos?'
10 the best of my recollection.
grew rough during the night Of tn
24th. We had, SO far as | remembe
rain and thick weather. Next day "
had thick and rough weather an
moderately heavy sea The weatht
was clear on the 26th. So far as I RI
member, by noon of the 26th it was ia
weather; the sea moderate from II
,..xN,k