The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-27
SHORT SESSION OF COURT
Admiral Cotton Was Again on
 Witness Stand.
Captain Wise Denies That He Ad- vised Admiral Schley That the Spanish Fleet Was Not
 at Santiago

WaSnlnkIOTl, sept, EOs-l u6 0CLfCy SO0t of Inquiry was in session for only an hour and three-quarters today, adjourn ing at 12:45 in order to permit its mem- bers and others engaged there to attend the funeral of Judge Wilson, late chief counsel for Admiral Schley.
 Captain Wise concluded his testimony, Admiral Cotton made a brief statement on recall, and Lieutenant Spencer S, Wood, who commanded the dispatch boat Dupont during the Spanish war, began his testimony. Machinest Gray, who was in charge of the starboard engines of the Texas on the day of the battle off Sam tiago, also testified briefly. He said that on the day of the battle the starboard engines were stopped and the machinery reversed. Captain Wise was questioned at considerable length as to what he had done before the arrival of the flying squadron off Santiago towards locating Cervera's fleet in the harbor. He said that while he had satisfied himself of the presence of the Spanish fleet, he had been content to communicate his knowl- edge to Admiral Schley through Captain Sigsbee. not considering 1t necessary to make direct communication with the commander-in-chief.
 Lieutenant Wood gave the particulars of his delivery of dispatches from Admi- ral Sampson to Admiral Schley on the 22nd of May, while the Admiral lay off Cienfuegos. He said Schley seemed very nervous and especially anxious to know what Sampson's intentions were. He had not concluded his testimony when the court adjourned for the day.
 The court of inquiry began its session today with the intention of holding one sitting, having decided to forego the af- ternoon session in order. to permit the members of the court and counsel to at- tend the funeral of Judge Wilson.
 Counsel for the Navy Department to- day continued their efforts to show that Admiral Schley had information of the fleet in the harbor of Santiago, and in troduced for this purpose additional of- ficers of the auxiliary cruisers which were at the time doing duty as scout boats in West Indian waters.
 Captain Wise Continues.
 Captain Wise. who commanded the scout ship Yale during the Spanish war, con- tinued his narration of the retrograde movement of the flying squadron toward Key West on May ?. He first told of in tow under direction of Admiral Schley. He said that the Admiral had signalled upon starting to ask if there was coal enough to carry him to Key West. to Wnlcn ne ndu reSDOnOeQ Tn the aInTuna- tive. On the next day he had reported in response to an inquiry that he had coal sufficient for two days of full steaming or for four days of moderate steaming He was then dispatched to Newport News. reporting to Admiral Sampson on the way. He had told Admiral Sampson, he said. that the flying squadron was about thirty miles west of Santiago
 In response to a question of the Ad- miral he had said he did not know what 1t was doing there. In detailing the trip westward toward Key West, the witness told of the breaking of the Yales haw- ser on the Merrimac. He said this had
 What was the dificulty?" asked Cap
 Improper securing of the hawser on
 Was it due to tempestous weather or not?'
 Not at all"
 Mir. Hanna read the following extract ry 1Sth beginning:
 7" TO the Committee on Naval Affairs in reference to the letter from the Sec retary of Navy of February 6, 1899
 After having been informed by the scouts commanded by such officers as Sigsbee Jewell and Wise, that although they all had been off Santiago de Cuba for a week they had seen nothing of 1t tthe spanish fiee5 and knew nothing of its movements or it's whereabouts, etc. V
 He then asked Captain Wise if he had made such communication to the Ao-
 II did not" was the response.
 Did you give Admiral Schley any in- formation respecting the Spanish squad ron?" e,,-, ., .. the response 'I did not go on board the Brooklyn at all. l gave Captain Sigsbee all the information I had"
 Had you been off Santiago for
 TI was there from the morning of the 22nd until the evening of the 26th when the flying squadron arrived
 Raynor Prods Wise.
 Captain Wise was cross-examined on this point by MT. Raynor.
 He asked: From the morning or the 22nd until the arrival of the flying squad ron on the evening of the 18th, were you trying to get in touch with the enemy and watching the harbor?"
 You saw nothing in there?"
 T could not see anything. at all
 You could see around the corner Of Gay Smith?" -,
 I've saw the masts of a small vessel. Could not distinguish what it was.
 You sent no one on shore to try and establish communication"
 isn't the natural condition of the har- bor such that it is impossible to see con- siderably up the harbor?"
 You can see only short distance up
 And there was nothing in sight what ever, was there?"
 The witness said that Captain Sigsbee had taken the dispatch beginning. Get in touch with the enemy"
 The court through Admiral Dewey, asked: Was it your duty or Captain sigsbee's to convey the information in the dispatch referred to Commodore Schley?'
 T think it was Captain sigsbee's. as he went immediately on duty and I was intercepted by orders from the Commodore to take the Merrimac in tow"
 MT. Hanna-Did you receive any in- ouiry or did the commanding officer of the flying squadron ask you for any information at any time?
 Nothing"
 MT. Raynor continued his questions. de- voting himself especially to the signal ing between the Yale and the flagship. The witness said he was sure that on May 8. when he hailed the Texas, he had not passed within haihng distance