The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-10-09
THE SCHLEY COURT.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-In the Schley
court OF inquiry Yesterday the first wit
ness, Lieut.. Jan es j Doyle, in Admir-
al Schley's behalf, was heard. He
was watch officer on board the flag
ship Brooklyn during the war with
Spain. The fact that Lieut.. Doyle was
put on the stand does not mean that
the navy depar ment has fiuished it's
side of the case. Lieut.. Doyle was
called by the department, but as Adj
miral Schley intended to call him he
was questioned as an original witness
for "lhe applicant.
Lieut.. Doyle said In response to ques-
tons that while at Key West, which
port the Brooklyn had left ut the head
of the flying squadron on May 10, 1898,
he had heard nothing of the Spanish
feet, nor had he then been informed
OF a secret code OF signals arranged by
Captain McCalla for communicating
with the Cuban insurgents.
Relating The particulars of the block
ade OF Cienfuegos by the flying squad
ron, from the 2lst to the Oath of May,
Lieut.. Doyle said he recalled the arrival
Of the Iowa and the Dupont off Glen
iuegos on May %, of the Hawk on the
23d and of the Marblehead on The
Oath.
He had observed three lights which
looked like bonfires on the shore each
night that the squadron lay off Cienfue-
Cos, but neither he nor anyone else on
board, 30 far as he knew, understood
their purport. He also told of re-
connoissance off the harbor of Cienfue
COS on the evening of MAY %, of the
conversation with the officers of the
British ship Adula and the arrival OF
the Marblehead and the departure of
the entire squadron for Santiago, after
the last named vessel had made COM
munications with the Cubans on
shore.
On the night of the Oath the ships
formed in squadron and started east
ward, the speed at first being nine
knots an hour, but afterwards being re-
duced to accommodate the smaller YES
sells, the Vixen and the Eagle. When
they made their start there was quite
surf, "long swell of the sea-, and on
the 25th the weather was still worse,
making it very difficult for the yachts
10 keep up.
Lieut.. Doyle placed the distance of
the American feet off Santiago from
the mouth of the harbor at from three
to four miles and said there were pick
ct boats on the inside of the line.
Speaking of the bombardment OF the
Colon on the 3lst Of May, he and Mr..
Reyner designating it as reconnois-
sance, Lieut.. Doyle said that its effect
had been to develop the fact that the
Spaniards had new guns in their land
batteries.
Here Mr.. Reyner asked: "When
was the circular form of blockade COM
menced?"
While no mention was made of the
name of Admiral Sampson this ques-
ton was evidently regarded as an at
tempt to bring his blockade into the
case for pusposes of comparison, and
Capt. Lemly was prompt in noting a
sharp and vigorous objection.
The court announced brief recess
and the members retired to consider
the objection. Returning Admiral
Dewey said:
1.-THE court decides that all questions
relating TO the blockade off Santiago
must be confined to the time prior to
the arrival OF the commander-in-chief. y
Captain Sigsbee was recalled. Mr..
Rayner asked him whether, "In view
of the state of the weather and the sea
of May rs, ships could have coaled with
safety to them?"
Captain Sigsbee replied: "Possibly
yes, on The evening of the Goth, but at q
risk OF danger to the ships. The wealth
er had somewhat abated and / cannot
say that it would have been impossible.
Captain Sigsbee said further: 81 die
not and never have stated that ADM
raj Sch was blockading twenty-five
mil at sea-"