Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-10-12
NEWS OF THE WEEK
scHLgY COURT OF INQUIRY.

An interesting turn was given tc
Sne ScklGy court 0f inquiry Wedrss
| day by the Introduction Of the first
witness in Admiral Schley's behalf
| This was Lieutenant James j. Doyle
| who was watch officer on board the
| flagship Brooklyn during the war with
| Spain. He was called by the depart
ment, but as he is one of the admiraPs
| witnesses advantage was taken to
question him as an original witness
for the applicant. Lieutenant Doyle
explained the change made in the
Brooklyn's log regarding the famous
loop. Relating the particulars OF the
blockade of Cienfuegos he described
the signal lights on shore but neither
he nor anyone else on the Brooklyn
had been informed of the secret code
and the signals could not be read.
Commander Sharp was the other prin-
cipal witness Of the day and he cor
roborated the evidence Of former wit
nesses for the department on the prtn-
cipal points in controversy.
Lieutenant James J. Doyle of the
Brooklyn continued his testimony be-
fore the Schley court of inquiry Thurs
day, detailing at great length the San
tiago campaign. Doyle pictured the
Brooklyn as a fighting Ship relent-
lessly and vigorously searching the
enemy, with a commander who was
cautious, alert and valiant. Doyle was
brought in the case at this time to tell
why he had changed the log book of
the Brooklyn to show that the Brook
Ign had turned on a starboard helm
instead of a port helm, as originally
written. He renewed his explanation
to the effect that he was deceived by
his view from the limited aperture in
the turret and changed his words
when Lieutenant Sharp called his at
tention to the mistake. Captain Daw-
son, signal officer of the Indiana, gave
an account of the behavior Of the va
rious ship during the engagement.
He said the Brooklyn had gone 1000
yards southwark before joining in the
pursuit of Cervera's ships.
In the Schley naval court of inquiry
Friday Mr.. Rayner, chief of counsel
for Admiral Schley, asked Judge Ad-
vocate Lemly to summon Admiral
Sampson as witness in the case.
The request grew out of difference
in the construction Of sentence in
Admiral SIMPSONS letter to Commo-
dore Schley, written from Key West,
May 20, while Commodore Schley with
the flying squadron lay off Cienfuegos.
While Commander Rodgers of the
board of survey was on the stand
Sch1ey's attorneys submitted COM
putation of shells showing that at
least Sd per cent Of the shots which
struck the Spanish feet were fired by
Che Brooklyn. Commander Hodgson
gave a graphic description of the bat
tie off Santiago, describing the part
taken in it by the Brooklyn and ex-
planning the change in the entry of
that vessels log. He testified that he
warned Schley that he would run into
the Texas, and the commodore re-
piled, Damn the Texas. She must |
look out for herself
The Schley court of inquiry held but |
one session Saturday and that was de-
voted mainly to reading the CORE
spondence between Admiral Sohley
and Commander Hodgson, who was
navigator of the Brooklyn in the Span
sh war, relating to their dispute over
he way the vessel was handled. The
question of construction of Simpsons
Dear Schley" letter was again
brought up and two "original'' copies
Produced, one by the department. and
me by Schley's attorneys. They were
IDENTICAL with the exception that in !;
he departments copy the word "Cien- ),
uegos" had been erased and "Santi-
go" substituted. rz 5-.z r. 2. .iea.>
In the schley court of inquiry Mon
lay Commander Hodgson repeated
nd extended his story of the battle of
'uly 3, giving the opinion that Com
nodore SchIey's conduct on that oeca-
ion was such as that of a command
r-in-chief should have been. He also
Explained at some length his CORE
with Admiral Schley con-
erning the alleged colloquy between
hem while the Santiago engagement
yas in progress. He said he had had
o controversy with the commodore,
ut he repeated that the mmodoTe
ad said Damn the Texas" when told
hat that vessel was in danger. Cap
ain FoIger said that the lombard
lent of the Cristobal Colon on May 81
ad been eminently successful in de-
clipping the strength of the Spanish
bore batteries and had shown them to
e very weak. He also said that if the
parish vessels had attempted to es-
ape at night they could not have been
cen by the blockading fleet in bad
Gather. ST. 1SsSs1ss
'Srs ,sgec;:-gFsSa -------- @5arr,.
FOREIGN NEWS. A