Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1901 — SCHLEY WINS A NEW POINT [ARTICLE]

SCHL EY WINS A NEW POINT

Failure to Show Delivery of Important Message. OFFICERS IN BAD LIGHT. Llcnte***! Hold*» Place* Southerland In a Discredited Position —Message That Cervera’s Fleet Was Not at Cleafnegos—Chart Gets Another Blow. Washington, D. C., telegram: Rear Admiral Schley has won the most favorable point developed at the court of inquiry, inasmuch as Lieutenant Holden, the watch officer of the Scorpion, testified that the information that the Spanish fleet was not in Cienfueges Harbor on May 19 was not communicated to Rear Admiral Schley, although it was testified to by Lieutenant Southerland. Judge Advocate Lemly thereupon admitted that he was unable by any evidence in his possession to show that the message bad been delivered to Schley. The testimony of Lieutenant Holden places Lieutenant Southerland in a discredited position, inasmuch as Southerland, commanding the Eagle, testified that he had communicated this information to the commanding officer of the Scorpion with instructions to that officer, Commander Marix, to communicate it to Rear Admiral Schley. Lieutenant Southerland related even to the minutest detail the megaphone mes*age he delivered to Commander Marix, which was to the effect, substantially, that Cervera’s fleet was not at Cienfuegos. The delivery of this message placed Commander Marix either 1n the attitude of suppressing the information delivered by Southerland or puts Rear Admiral Schley in the position of denying the receipt of this intelligence, and raised a question of veracity between Schley, Southerland and Marix, especially between the two latter. Lieutenant Holden, who heard part of the megaphone message which Commander Marix received from Lieutenant Southerland, said there was nothing in it which conveyed the Information that the Spaniards were not in Cienfuegos. Reading from the log of his vessel, the Scorpion, Lieutenant Holden found an entry reading: "No news from the Spaniards.” This entry corresponds exactly with the log of the Brooklyn and with the claims made by Rear Admiral Schley. Rayner Quotes the Message. In addressing the court, Mr. Rayner, counsel for Rear Admiral Schley, quoted the message which Lieutenant Commander Southerland, in command of the Eagle, testified he had megaphoned to the Scorpion on May 19 in order to intercept the Eagle. This message, as'the Lieutenant Commander gave it, read: “We left Cienfuegos on the night of the 16th, at which time, as we learned from an insurgent camp about thirteen miles to the westward of Cienfuegos, some of the people from which were inside the town every

night, that the only vessels in the harbor were a torpedo boat and nine cannonieros.” Scorpion's Log Corroet, Mr. Raynor presented the Scorpion’s log containing the entry covering the meeting with the Eagle, and Mr. Holden said that it was correct, according to his best knowledge and belief. Captain Lemly—l ask if you are quite positive nothing else was communicated to the v;s3el at this time, which you may have omitted from this entry in the log book? “I did not conduct the megaphone message.” “Did you hear it?” “I did not hear all of it; only part# of it.” “You mean you did not hear all of it as received on board the Scorpion?” “I did not.” “Did you hear all that was communicated to the Brooklyn?” “I did.” “Do s that entry in the log embody all that was communicated to the Brooklyn?” “To the best of my knowledge and belief it does.” OOlclal Chart Discredited. More hard blows were given the official chart plotting the positions of the Spanish and American vessels during the battle of Santiago which was prepared by the board of navigators. Lieutenant Commander Schuetze, the navigator of the lowa and a member of the board, testified that he protested against signing the report accompanying the chart, as it was inaccurate. He said that the chart was a compromise and that he had been persuaded to sign it by Commander Wainwright, the president of the board, who said it was the best the navigators could agree to if they sat until doomsday. No Order* from Schley. Lieutenant Commander Grant, the watch officer of the Massachusetts, said he knew of no instructions from Admiral Schley as to what should be done in the event of meeting the enemy. Captain Chadwick of the flagship New York was the principal witness in the Schley inquiry Friday, testifying at much length regarding signals and telling when Admiral Sampson became assured that the Spaniards were in Santiago harbor.