New-York tribune., 1901-10-13

D
COMMANDER sTAUNToN CALLED.
Captain Chadwick was then excused. and Lieu
tenant-Commander Sidney A Staunton was called
belore the witness took his seat Judge Advocate
Hetsiy asked and received permission put in as
eVIuehce Admiral SIMPSONS official report made
at guantanamo Bay August g. 1895
Aleutenant-Commander Staunton related the par
uculars OF his securing information of the pres
ehce or Cervera's feet at Santiago. He said that
while the fleet under Admiral Sampson Law at Kew
% MesI on the morning of May 20 he went ashore
"hile In the office of Admiral Remev Captain AL
,eIi, OF the signal Office had called him aside and
tOiu MIN mat he had received information Of the
presence of the Spanish feet at Santiago which he
oeheVed TO be correct The information was TO the
eHect that the fleet had entered the harhor on
Nay ~. Inc information came from an employe
OF the telegraph office at Havana who couId onI,
send his information at O'Clock vybar o+b.rs
were absent from the Office there Captain Allen
hao the witness said, asked that great secrecy he
observed for the protection of the operator only
agreeing that the commander-in-chief and his staff
Should be informed Later the witness had re-
turned 10 Key West and received confirmatory in
formation.
WORD SENT TO SCHLEY MAY q
Ihe next morning. May 81 the feet proceeded to
'he blockade of Havana, Admiral Sampson being
1lsHeu that the information concerning the pres
ence OF the fleet at Santiago was correct The Ad-
ihiral accordingly had called up the Hawk and for
Warded his dispatches to Commodore Schley
odPtaln Lemy-Tell the court fully from what
source the information was received concerning tbe
arrival of Cervera's fleet in Santiago 1 would like
you 10 identify the dispatch put into cipher at that
time. to which you refer
me dispatch l referred to having been drawn
up by Captain Chadwick, in my presence is the
ulSpateh known as the memorandum that accom-
panied dispatch No. s."
Mr.. Rayner-The Hawk carried No. s. Is that
right?
me captain Of the Hawk was called on board
and remember his instructions were to proceed
with all speed until he met the Vesuvius and trans
nit the dispatch TO her as she was Easter essaI
AS 10 whether No. was inclosed with this was
NOT secretary and did not nciose it."
When did the Hawk leave?"
she left the Havana blockade some distance
west OF Havana about dusk May 81 probab bly
about $50" P''
Ihen you received this information on Nav %
al $50 in the morning. and the Hawk left at dusk
on May 21?. 'N' a. NuSN
That is correct
The witness said in reply to questions that the
memoranda beginning The incIosed instructions
VIII reach you had not been sent by the Iowa
as the dispatch was dated May p and the Iowa
had left on the day previous
Mr.. Rayner-Was not the Hawk +bA fret ,,osso,
that carried that memorandum?
To the best of my knowledge the Hawk was the
nrst and only vessel that carried that memoran-
dunn replied the witness
The Hawk left on May 81 and the first informa-
Goth When did you get this second conArnatorv
information you speak OFF,
1 got 1t on shore Key West about O'Clock
on the evening OF May 20"
1hen the con1rmatory dispatch. understand
IL was received some twenty-four hours before the
Hawk left with this memorandum 10 Commodore
Schley. Is that right?"
Yes at Key West. and the Hawk was sent from
Havana"
Can you give me any subsequent dispatches or
hat aI ha@u-
and Commodore schIey in reference to the Spanish
squadron being at Santiago?"
i do not think can refer you to any. After
Admiral Sampson heard that the feet Of Commo-
oore Schley had not left Cienfuegos-n other words
after ne got a reply from the commander of the
Flylng Squadron-he sent the Wasp I think about
May 20. TO Cienfuegos with an additional dispatch
put she, Of course did arrive there until Com
modore schley had left for Santiago. and I do not
remember what those dispatches were"
WAS that the Wasp?"
Yes"
What date7'
My impression is she left by the old Bahama
Channel on May 26.'
Then I understand that between the time that
the Hawk carried this information to Commodore
Schey at dusk on the evening OF May q and the
time when this dispatch sent from the Bahama
Channel on the Goth there no communication
between Admiral Sampson and Commodore SchIey
in reference to the Spanish squadron at Santiago
Was there?'
II thought I replied there was no opportunity
for any"
ORDERING sCHLEY TO SANTIAGO.
After further effort Mr. Rayner's part TO
elicit information 10 correspondence between
the two commanders. and objection on the part of
Mr. Hanna in bringing in dispatches which had no
immediate bearing Commodore Schley's con-
duct Mr.. Rayner said there communicat ton
between them between May y and May 27. He
then quoted the dispatch of May q as the first
positive knowledge conveyed to Commodore Schley
of the presence of the fleet at Santiago This dis
patch was as follows:
United States Flagship New-York
St. Nicholas Channel May % 1898
Sir: Every report. and particularly daily conf
dental reports. received at Key West from Ha
de de cPa & from from The the 18th TO to The The 18th ncusiys
You will please proceed with all possible dispatch
to Santiago to blockade that port. If. on arrival
there you receive positive Inflammation of the Span
suit sui ''E Very respectfully, ". T SAMPSON
Mr. Hanna-what is the first positive order?
Mr.. Rayner-May 27.
Mr.. Hanna-Did he receive it on the 9th.
Mr.. Rayner-He never received it on the 27th
(after being prompted by Admiral Schley). He got
1t June 10.
Mr.. Hanna-How is 1t possible, then. he can be
affected by order after all that lapse of time?
Mr.. Rayner-That is just what want to prove
that he had orders except those contained in
dispatches Nos and s.
Mr.. Rayner then repeated his desire to offer the
dispatch of May 27 in evidence and after a colloquy
between Mr.. Rayner and Judge Advocate Lenly
Mr.. Hanna remarked that there was no objection
putting it in except that 1t was obviously in
tended to reflect person who is not under in
ouiry"
To this Mr.. Rayner responded that 1t was not
intended to reflect any one, but that It was in
tended ito prevent a reflection on Commodore
Schley-" 1t was decided that the dispatch al