The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-06
BCHLEY'S SIDE OF THE CASE.
,aptain Parker Commenced the Presenta-
ton in His Behalf
ANNA FINISHED FOR NAVY DEPART
violence Adduced by the Inquiry Being Carefully
Reviewed by Counsel-Captain Parkers Re-
marks Will Be Resumed Today

Washington, November 5-The time Of
Schley court of inquiry was entirely
Voted today to hearing arguments
hr. Hanna finished his argument in be.
q Of the department and Captain Cnar'e-
aker began but did not conclude his
ssentation Of the case for ADMIR-,
hley.
NJ Hama today considered the retro
sde movement, the boA1ardiuent Of the
Ion and the charge made against Admiral
tley for disohedience Of orders
captain Parker had only reached the
bon question when the court adjourned
u is expected that Captalu Parker WI,
neude his speech tomorrow when Mr.
snor wiz begin.
ir Hanna briefly reverted TO the cruise
the flying squadron from Cienfuegos to
Ltiago for the purpose Of showing thai
ither the Vixen or Merrimac had been
cause OF delay on the voyage
M. Hanna Continued his discussion Of
q retrograde movement, saying that but
e explanation had been given for it IN
tnlral Schley's dispatch, namely. rae
ndequacy of coal supplies
There is he said no. suggestion Of
| y other reason in this dispatch In ais
Istimony before this court Admiral Schlvy
We four reasons tor leaving his station
Santiago. but no one OF these four rea-
as appear In his Geographic report made
. the time
MI. Hanna then took up specification No.
OF the precept relating 10 the circum-
ances and The reasons for disobedience
Commodore Schley of the orders OF the
L.. 4. a. Na Z
.1y 20, lS9s. and the propriety of his con
let in the premises In this connection
.tention was directed 10 the fact that the
urt was, by letter of August !. 1901. IN
tueted that 1t is absolutely free 20 re
| II II snch shall be found 10 he the case.
at Commodore Schlcy did not W,ltuly
sobey orders. hut thar he was iustned
disobeyinG them
Mi. Hanna contended that while Com
odore Schley was acting under the or
rs contained in dispatch No $, when the
.trograde movement began. May 20, that
was superseded by the dispatches 0e.iV-
ed on the Brooklyn May - by Captain
btton ia command Of the Harvard and IN
e OF which it was said mat "all tire
partment's information Indicates that
Spanish division Is stil at santiago
Cuba. and to which the order was ad-
Ia. THE department looks to you TO as-
rtain the facts and that the enemy. I
erein, does not leave without decisive
| tion."
Mr. Hanna took issue with Admiral
hley that that was suggestion and not
Mandatory order.
$50 far from being suggestive. doubtful
uncertain, the terms of this order np.
zach the verge Of reproof,' said Mr..
anna. Their inclsive distinctness is
|tnbe. so much So that ! think few sub
.dinate officers, having urned their backs
task to which they had been assigned,
ould care to be arrested in such act by a
legraphic order from a superior couched
Mr. HamAa quoted Admiral Schley's dis.
htch of May %. in which he expressed re-
ct over not being able 10 obey orders,
wing that as 1t was written after the
stton dispatch had been received II was
explicit confession that the Cotton te.e-
am was an order.
Commentlng upon this dispatch. he de-
.ared that II was 'the most remarkable
he to be found In the annals of the Amer
an navy" He contended that the repairs
the Merrimac could have been made
thout going to Key West aud that the
axas was not in severe straits for fuel.
for the Vixen. she was not a fighting
In and could have been sent for coal
be BROOKLYN, he said, was ahundantly
applied. He contended also that on that
.ste, May ~ the condition of the seas was
" such as TO prevent cGalng. He as
rted that the weather was rough only on
ay %, and that therefore Commodore
ahIeys assertion thar the weather Ind
zen bolsterous and the sea rough ever
nee leaving Key West, was uniustihed hy
y Facts,
'Refcrrng," he said, "to the indlsputa.
evidence of the squadron logs II APP
bars that the Brooklyn could have re-
aimed on blockade duty thirtytN days,
| e Ma sSachuSetts about twentv-four days,
Q iowa eighteen days, the Texas forty
< DAYS and the Marblenead six DAYS re.
ming still coal enough 10 reach Gonaiyes
|ayti, a point where hy Admiral Schley' s
IN testimony he could have coaled the
nalier vessels In the ports and the larger
hes off the coast,
THE speaker also controverted the state
emit in his dispatch made to the depart
emit to the effect that 1T Is not possible
cruise to the leeward at Cape Cruise
summer owing TO southwes winds ~
ioting several witnesses to show that the
Ind was not from the southwest
|"Quoting from the expression from tbs
me dispatch It is 10 he regretted that the
epartment's orders can not be oheyed.'
Ii. Hanna remarked "Most undoubtedly
was a critical time and the action oil
nmmodore Schley~in abandoning his sta
on before Santiago thus, as he himself
ates, failing to obey the department
+ders, created grave anxietles in our Ma
onal councils"
Taxing up the coal supply Of the heet
required by specification OF the pre-
|pt Mfr Hanna said, From testimony
Commanding and other officers Of tn,
rooklyn. the Iowa. the Massachusetts,
le Marblehead and the executive and