The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-27


the language or that dispatch occurred.
II DO not desire at this moment 10 it
terrupt the proceedings by any discussion
OF that point. but ! shall merely make
the announcement here that We do
intend 20 enter into the matter very fully
and completely: that is to say. as fully
and as completely as the court may de-
sire before We leave.
Lieutenant John Hood, who during the
war commanded the Hawk, was the next
witness. lie said that on May % he had
delivered dispatches from Admiral Samp-
son 10 Admiral Schley when the latter
was OF cienfuegos. He related that he
had ben called aboard the New York, Ad-
miral Sampsops flagship on May II.
wher the officers on board were preparing
dispatches lie spoke OF the presence OF
Admiral Sampson.
Mr. Rayner objected to the Introduction
OF conversation OF verbal orders. saying
that the orders would speak for them
selves and must necessarily supersede any
verbal Instructions. The question was
argued at some length by MIR. Rayner
and Captain Lemly.
In closing his response the Judge advo-
cate said:
AN objection OF this character is almost
equivalent 10 Withdrawing the request
for an Investigation. He has asked TO
have the judgment OF his brother officers
i'm this matter Let us have IT, and
don't put technical obstacles in the way
OF having the investigation"
Mr.. RsSner responded briefly:
II only desire 10 state that while this
is our investigation. these are your spec
lncations under the precept We asked
for this investigation and instead of let
ting us give the precept under which we
would like TO have the inquiry take place.
you form precept OF your own. Here is
an applicant who asks for a court Of
inquiry under specinca tions framed by
others" and not by himself"
OBJECTION SUSTAINED
The court retired 10 consider the
objection remaining out longer than on
any previous occasion. Admiral Dewey
read the courts decision as follows
The court sustains the objection of
counsel SO far az ID relates To conversa-
tons that took place on board the New
York. but this ruling does not apply
To any verbal orders which the COM
mander-in-chief directed witness To con-
vey To Commodore Schley."
Replying Ca question put In accord
ance with this decision the witness said
his Instructions We're contained i'm the
memorandum handed him TO be delivered
10 Admiral Schley which were read To
him. The witness then read dispatch No.
\, from sampson to Schley OF May 81.
telling the latter that the Spanish squad
ron was probably at Santiago lie also
read the BrOoklyns receipt memorandum
showing that this dispatch. ~ well as
the accompanying memorandum. had
been received az S;l5 a. m, MAY ~; The
witness identified these a. the orders he
had carried He also said that he car
ried the two other envelopes. one con-
tanning orders from the department aud
the other memorandum which had not
been read 60 him. lie said he had arr
rived OF tteniuegos at Z q. IN. May -
and had gone aboard the BROOKLYN for the
purpose OF delivering the dispatches
ln response "a request from the
Judge advocate. Lieut. Hood related the
conversation which he had had with Ad-
miral ScheN. after delivering the orders.
saying that lac (the wituess) had told the
ADMIRAL that n was Admiral sampson 5
wish that the hNiug squadron should pro
ceed immediately Ia Santiago, as his in
formation was very positive. His state
ment was as follows:
commodore schley read the dispatches
aud then. turning To me. said. Captain,
Admiral Sampson wishes me TO go 10
Santiago. j cannot do IT.
SHIPS NEEDED COAL
II told Commodore SchIey that the adj
mral certainly expected the squadron 10
leave the instant ] arrived Commodore
Schley then said in nearly these words:
I am not at all "a tisiied that the Span
iards are not here In Clenfuegos. Be
sides my ships an want coal. that the
Massachusetts. Texas and Brooklyn
the day before Capt. Sampson had sent
him down The Iowa with only half her
coal supply. 80 that she could not go
anywhere that " was useless TO send
ships down there only hair hlled win
Il told Commodore schley that I had
passed collier conveyed by a gunbOat "A
little before daylight that morning and
IL would certainly be there with at least
four OF nve thousand tons OF coal within
two or three hours lie referred again 60
his belief of the Spaniards being in Glen
fucgos and stated that he had heard
some firing about 40 miles from port.
which he took 90 be "A welcome to the
Spanish squadron: he had also seen smoke
which he conceived 60 be the Spanish
squadron and ne believed they were there.
said 10 Commodore Schey then that the
information which the admiral had hc
considered az dofuite; he had no doubt
but that the spanish squadron was at
Santiago.
NOT on THE SPOT
Commodore schley then said 10 mc:
Captain sampson does not understand.
llc Is not ON the spot and cannot judge.
I also informed Commodore Schley that
they certainly expected tho squadron IN
leave Immediately and that 7 had verbal
orders from the commander -tn-chief
which dd not appear in the written orr
dcrs 70 remain with the Hawk alone at
CienfucEos after tho squadron had lett
and conduct n blockade for n day or two
or as long az my coal supply lasted"
Describe tho commodore's manner up-
on this occasion. said captain Iemly
"Thc commodore was sitting in HIS chair
al the time was talking a. him. very
quietly lie seemed 10 be very much
perplsxcd AZ what 90 do
"Do you remember " there was any
thing said about communication with the
insurgents
There wae something said by me-"
I'm tho commodore presence
NO. chief ~ stan on dock The COM
modorc was IN the cabin"
80 EFFORT MADE
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