The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-16
SCRLEY WAS BRAVE
HIS CONDUCT UNDER FIRE WAS
ADMIRABLE.
BRAVE, COOL, ENTHUSIASTIC.
FLAG LIEUTENANT SEARS ON THE
STAND.

OHAS ne bTOOklyn Ma0e Many
Signals to Other Ships-schIey's
Brief and Modest Report of the
Battle Suppressed-Capt. Cook Re-
called to stand-SchIey Ordered
His Gunners to Fire Slowly ami
CoOIIy.
Washington, Oct. 15.-Only one new
witness was heard in detail by the
Schley court of inquiry to-day. This
was Lieutenant Commander James H.
Sears, who was Admiral Schleys flag
lieutenant during the Spanish war. He
gave a detailed account of the entire
Cuban naval campaign.
While Commander Sears was on the
stand Capt. Lemly asked his age, but
the court after quite a prolonged con-
sultation in retirement, decided that
the question was not admissible. 1t
held, however. that the time of SER
vice could be inquired into.
Mr.. Rayner sought to secure the in
PRODUCTION of a brief report of the bat
tie of July 8, which Commodore Schley
prepared for transmission to the Sec
retary of the Navy. 1t was stated that
Commander Sears had taken this dis
patch ashore to be cabled
to the secretary, but that it
never had reached that offi-
cial. The dispatch was ruled out
on the ground as it was not received
it was not an official communication.
1t was not read in the courtroom, but
the following is copy of it:
SchIey's Modest Dispatch.
The Secretary of the Navy, Wash
ington, D. c. Spanish squadron came
out of Santiago harbor this morning,
July 3, at $3.50 and were all captured or
destroyed in running fight
to the westward of about
three and one-half hours. Very
few casualties in our fleet; Ellis, chis
yeoman, killed. and one man wounded
on the Brooklyn. Reports from other
ships not in yet. The commander-in-
chief now experimenting transfer of
prisoners from the Cristobal Colon,
which surrendered to the Brooklyn and
eregcn at Ills p, m. About l,0Oe pri-
soners in all, including Spanish ad-
miral Victory complete. Details later
(Signed) 'Schley."
schley's Conduct Admirable.
Capt. Cook was recalled during the
day. and in response to a question by
Capt Lemly, made an additional state
ment concerning the retrograde move
ment of the Flying Squadron, May 26
to May 2S. He also said in answer to
question by the court, that Commo-
dore Schley during the battle of July
8, was cool. brave and enthusiastic.
Il cannot imagine any conduct in bat
tie more admirable
Lieutenant Commander Sears. in re-
sponse to questions by Mr.. Rayner,
said that when the Flying Squadron
arrived off Cienfuegos, he knew moth
ing of code of signals for communi-
cation with the Cuban insurgents. The
McCalla memoranda, he said, had been
brought to Commodore Schley by the
Hawk. and by no other vessel to his
knowledge.
Commander Sears gave a detailed
account of the encounter with the Brit
ish steamer Adula. He said
THE commodore directed me to go
aboard the Adula and see if l could
contrive some manner of inducing the
captain of the Adula, an Englishman,
to put himself out a little to tell us
something about what was going on
inside of Cienfuegos. The captain said
Of course he would be very glad to do
it as he was coming under some au-
thority from our fleet in Jamaica.
AduIa's Captain Was Too smooth.
He suggested that when he came
out on the next day we should bring
him to with a shot so that anybody
observing it from shore would see that
he was acting under force and that
ANYBODY who could speak Spanish
could find out all they pleased from the
refugees she had on board"
Did he come out the next day?"
He did not"
Describing the blockade of Cienfue-
gos, Commander Sears said that it had
been maintained from one to four
miles out and that the Dupont was
stationed inside with instructions to
keep close into the mouth of the har-
Dor.
The witness in giving the details of
the cruise from Cienfuegos to Santiago
said the weather was boisterous with
a heavy sea and that coaling at sea
would not have been safe before May
27. when it was undertaken.
With reference to the blockade at
Santiago the witness said that ii had
been maintained at varying distances
of from three to six miles to suit the
commander in chief. In thick wealth
or and at night the distance was less
than in fair weather and in the day
time.
The witness said the reconnaissance
of Nav 81 had developed the strength
of the land batteries. and they had
proved to be stronger than he sup
nosed they were. Commodore Schley
had he said, told him that his pur-
nose was to ascertain what the bat
ferries were. He said he had been with
Tde,t. Potts on the Massachusetts, on
that day. and had not heard any con-
versation between that officer and Com
modore Schley.
sears Account of the Battle.
The witness described the engage
nent of July 3. After stating the pre-
linninary incidents, he said:
1T met the commodore on the quarter
dock He directed the signal, Clear
shin for action followed by the signal
10 close in ali Of which were made
From nv position had a good view of
the entrance. Our ship was heading
AZ the time. I should say 10 the west
ward Of north, not on her regular
heading. which was about northeast by
north The engines had been started
nv the time got on deck, and she was
gaining way and swinging toward the
enemy. AS the ships swung toward
the Teresa she swung slowly around J..
To me the Teresa appeared 10 not hold
= -....sf., .t.ad.y ooafrae and the helm