Evening journal., 1901-10-05
NOW Z SAMPSON -.' 4 3
Will BIB CALLED.
Unless Error il" Dear SChley''
Letter Is Conceded
HOdgSOn Acknowledges Correctness Of
the Strategic Maneuyer OF The
BROOKLYN

Washington. oct Sin the Schley
naval court of inquiry Mr. Rayner.
chict of counsel for Admiral Schley,
asked Judge Advocate Lemly to sum.
mon Admiral Sampson as a witness
in the case. The request grew out Of
difference In the construction of a
sentence in Admiral SIMPSONS letter
to Commodore Schley, written from
Key West May 20, while Commodore
J Schley with the flying squadron lay on
Cienfuegos. This is known as the
Dear Sir letter. and IN It as printed
in the navy department documents
supplied to the senate the admiral
said, after expressing his opinion that
Notwithstanding the report that the
Spanish squadron was in Santiago, It
were better to continue to blockade
| Cienfuegos and Havana, I'VE shall con-
tinue to hold Havana and Santiago un-
til we receive more positive informa-
tion."
During the examination Of Com
mander Raymond p. Rodgers this dis
patch was under consideration, when
Mr.. Rayner expressed the opinion that
the word Santiago had been inadvert-
emily used by the commanderin.chief,
assuming that he meant to use the
word Cienfuegos, as better correspond
ing with the context As the docu.
ment was printed there was a paren-
| thetical note, to which Admiral
Schley's initials were attached, saying
that evidently the wrong city had been
mentioned. Mr. Rayner asked Judge
Advocate Lemly to make this conces-
sion. but the latter declined to do SO.
saying that he would produce the
original of SIMPSONS dispatch to
prove that ne had said Santiago. Then
Mr.. Rayner said: Il cannot take that
word Santiago to mean anything but
Cienfuegos. II is an imputation upon
Commodore Schley, and | cannot per
init it to rest without summoning the
author of that Dispatch" to which
Captain Lemly responded: "I have
told you. once before that you can sum-
mon any one you please" leo ~i.i
"Then,' retorted Mr.. Rayner, sum
mon Admiral Sampson"
This occurred only a short time be-
fore the adjournment Of the court for
the day, and was the subject Of more
| or less conversation of an animated
character after the days work was
| concluded Mr. Rayner would only
say that he would insist upon the ad.
mirals being summoned unless the
| correction was conceded
The witnesses for the day were
Lieutenant c. w. Dyson, Of the bu-
reau OF steam engineering, concerning
the coal supply of the flying squadron;
Commander Raymond p. Rogers. who
was second in command of the battle
ship Iowa during the Spanish war and
carried Admiral SIMPSONS dispatches
of May 20 TO Commodore Schley, and
Commander Albion c. Hodgson, who
was the navigator of the flagship
Brooklyn
6roohyn's Guns We're Active.
While Commander Rodgers was on
the stand Mr. Rayner submitted
computation of shells from the Amer
lean fleet which had struck the wreck
cd vessels of Cervera's squadron,
showing that at least "a per cent. OF
them we're fired by the Brooklyn. This
computation Mr.. Rayner said had been
prepared by Admiral Schley upon the
basis of a report made by the board
of survey. OF which the witness was
the senior member
Commander Hodgson gave a graphic
description OF the battle of Santiago,
describing the part taken by the
Brooklyn. and explaining the change
In the entry of that vessels log.
Detailing the particulars Of that en-
gagement he said: II heard the ex-
ecutive officer. Lieutenant Commander
Mason, sing out Clear ship for action
and the crew Immediately dispersed to
quarters, l having sounded the general
alarm previously The commodore
shortly appeared on the bridge. We
were at that time headed about west
northwest or TO the westward Of
northwest. / told him that there was
nothing doing. and he said Go ahead.
rang six bells and asked if we had
not better hold her head steady to see
what course the Spaniards proposed
to pursue. do not remember his re-
ply exactly to that. because imme-
diately afterward l told him they
were evidently making for us. and he
said GO for them and l rang four
bells and put helm aport.
Captain Cook appeared upon the
bridge at this time, and / told him
that everything was connected up at
the coming tower and that we were
already going ahead, and in fact we
were going ahead. The commodore
took his position on a platform he had
built around the coming tower, where
he could be in easy communication
with the commanding officer inside,
and remained on the bridge.
sehley's Warning Shout.
"The executive officer had given pre-
viously the order to man the star
board batteries I sang out to him
we were going into action with port
helm, and he shifted over to the port