The age-herald., 1901-10-16

Lieutenant Commander Sears continued his recital Of the details of the Santiago campaign, being under cross examina- tion. The examination was conducted by MT. Hanna. The witness said that in- structions were given immediately after Captain Mccal1a's report that the Span iards were not at Cienfuegos. to proceed to Santiago.
 Mir. Hanna asked why the Yucatan channel. rather than the Windward pas sage, had been selected In making the retrograde movement. The witness re- piled that his opinion was that the selec- ton had been made because of the gen eral feeling that the Spanish ships might have gotten out of the harbor at Santiago and gone to the westward. In that event 1t was felt that the Yueatan channel route would be the better. The impress sion that Cervera had left Santiago he said. had been created by information received from the Adula.
 The witness said the fleet under Com modore Sohley never had been withdrawn from Santiago to a distance out at sea at night. As rule, the ships were far ther inside at night than during the day. The ships never had gone farther off than six miles. On one occasion the colliers had been sent twent y-five miles away.
 The witness said the dispatches brought by Captain Cotton to Commodore Schley off Santiago contained the most positive information they had had that the enemy were in Santiago.
 Signals From Brooklyn.
 What orders, If any were signaled to the squadron by the Brooklyn ar the time the Spanish squadron appeared coming out until the Colon ran ashore?"
 'The prescribed signal was that the Spanish fleet was escaping. The next sig nal was clear ship for action the next signal was close in.' There was a signal when the Viscaya was hopelessly out of 1t for the Oregon to cease firing. The next signal was to the Oregon to open fire with 13-inch guns There were sig nals then made between the Oregon and the Brooklyn. When the Oregon would lire we would notify her of the fall of her shells. When we fired the Oregon notified us. Then upon the approach of the New York, when she was observed signal was made, I think to the Texas, to be repeated notifying the commander in-chief that we had won a great vic tory"
 Were these signals answered and these orders obeyed by the ships of the sauad- ron?"
 The orders were obeyed. do not know whether the signals were answered or Hot' could not see. Later signalS-those that had nothing to do with the squad ron-at the end of the battle were all answered"
 Did the Teresa turn to the westward before the Brooklyn commenced her turn to starboard?''
 The Brooklyn was forging ahead, gain ing speed and the helm was eased. The Teresa, before she turned to the west ward, appeared to move herself to keep her range toward us"
 At what period of the action did the Viscaya change her course as if she in- tended to ram the Brooklyn?'
 Shortly before she gave up. The fight nao developed into very open one at that time."
 Do you know which of the vessels on July first hoisted the signal, Enemy escaping?"
 T do not know of my own observations. The report was the Iowa got 1t up first"
 That was the alarm signal to be hoist ed, not as an order but as a general alarm or warning to the fleet?'
 That was in orders of the commander in chief"
 By the Court-Did the vessels close up July B. in obedience to the signal made from the Brooklyn, or was there a stand ing order for them to close up in case the enemy was seen attempting to es- cape?
 There was a standing order that If the enemy attempted to escape the squadron must close in and destroy It, or words to that effect"
 When the court concluded it's questions Commander Sears was excused and the court adjourned for the day.