Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1901-10-12
SCHLEY HAS A TURN.
Witness Hodgson Says the Brook.
Ign Did Most Fighting.
Tlagship Only Ran 900 Yards from the
Spanish Ships to Make the Famous
Loop, He says-Motive OF
schley's Lawyers.

Washington, Oct. S.-The Schley
court of inquiry Monday entered upon
the third straight week of the inves-
tigation of Admiral Schley's conduct
in the Spanish war. 1t was expected
that the navy department would be
able to complete its presentation of
the case by the close of last week, but
when the court opened Monday Capt.
Lemly's list of witnesses still con-
tanned almost dozen names.
Commander Hodgson, who was on
the Brooklyn with Commodore Schley
during the battle of Santiago July 3,
continued his description of the bat
tie. He said: 1.-THE Brooklyn did all
she could. She got into action. just
as quick as steam could carry her
there. We commenced firing as soon
as the first gun on the port bow would
bear, and we kept the port battery fir
ing until she turned with port helm
through the arc, using the aft guns
until we got all the starboard guns
to bear. We got around as quickly as
we could with port helm until we al
most paralleled the course Of the
leading ship, when the helm was eased
and the ship steered course parrellel
with the Viscaya, which was then the
leading vessel, although the Maria
Teresa probably was farther to the
westward than the Viscaya. When we
got around the smoke was so dense
nothing could be seen or anything in
the rear of us. The three Spanish YES
sells then engaged were the Wis
caya, the Colon and the Oquendo.
The Viscaya was about $500 yards on
our starboard bow; the Colon proba-
bly, little forward of the starboard
beam. The Oquendo was abaft the
starboard beam. We continued in that
direction when l remarked to Capt.
Cook that it seemed rather lonely for
use out there. He was in the coming
tower. He asked, why? told him
that we were all alone with the three
Spanish vessels and it seemed that it
depended upon us to knock them out.
At that time this smoke was so dense
] could not see anything and l sup
pose that the New York being away
the Brooklyn was steaming ahead of
the slower vessels. He stepped out
of the coming tower and exclaimed
to me: What's that off our starboard
quarter" 1 looked in that direction
md saw the heavy bow of ship and
said: THAT must be the Massachu-
Sets He said, NO, it could not be
the Massachusetts,, she has gone to
Guantanamo / said, 1T must be the
Oregon and he remarked, God bless
the Oregon 1 said, We'll, l am very
glad to see her. The Oregon was
at that time about, should say, 400
or 500 yards off our starboard quar-
ter at full speed. We continued in
that position until the Brooklyn's
speed began to increase as we got up
steam and probably drew little far
Their ahead of the Oregon. She new
--er was that close to us again as re-
member. The Oquendo very shortly
fell out and went ashore. The Colon
gradually drew ahead and also went in
shore"
'It has been stated here" said Mr..
Rayner, that the Brooklyn ran p
300 yards away from the enemy's ships
in making her loop" The witness re-
piled: "Any witness who made that
statement, although he may have
stated what he thought had occurred,
was absolutely mistaken" "How far
did she GO from the enemy's vessels?'
"She must have gone about 600 yards
to theSsouthward, as that is about
the tactical diameter of the Brooklyn
ut that speed" did this turn inter-
fere with the Brooklyn's ability to
keep up her fire?" ut did not; she
continued to fire from after turret."
The questions Schley's attorneys
have asked witnesses indicate that
they will lay special stress upon
Schley's disobedience of orders. They
will try to establish the existence of
reasons justifying Schley in declaring
It was impossible to execute the or
ders to remain off Santiago, and to
substantiate his statement that he
had striven earnestly toward that
end. For the first specification. COW
ering his general conduct in the cam
paign, it has been substantially es-
tablished that he conducted himself
as q brave commander.