The Washington times., 1901-08-09
THE ENQUIRY WITNESSES.
A Long List Prepared by the Navy's
Judge Advocate General.

Santiago Fleet Captains Summoned
Admiral Philips Death Leads to
Conflicting StatemenfsAThc story
of HowisOn's Bias Discredited.
orders We're issued yesterday at the
Navy Department directing the return to
the United States of Boatswain Dennis J.
O'Connem. now at the Cavite station in
the Philippines. Boatswain O'Connell is
one of the most important witnesses to
be called before the Schley Court of En-
quiry He was chief quartermaster on
the Brooklyn. Rear Admiral Schley's flag
ship, at the time of the fight with the
Spanish vessels. and had command of the
signal men on the Brooklyn.
He will be called to testify as to what
signals were given by the Brooklyn dur
ing the fight and will prove a valuable
witness in this respect. According to
Captain Cooks report on the battle the
first signal given by the Brooklyn was
Enemy coming out-action.' Other wit
nesses will be summoned from distant
points from day to day until all who Will
be required will be under orders to return
to the United States.
The Judge Advocate General S Office Of
the Navy Department has prepared par
tial list of tn witnesses who will be sum
moned to appear before the Court All OF
the various captains of the fleet off San
tiago, with the exception of Captain
Philip. deceased, of the Texas. will be re-
quested to be present In addition to
these the list contains the following
names:
Lieut.. S. A Staunton, Simpsons. flag
lieutenant and author of the despatch an
nouncing the defeat of the Spanish fleet.
He is now attached to thes Iankton.
Lieut. C. c. Marsh, SIMPSONS flag sec
retary, now with the Mayiiower.
Commander William p. Potter, Chad
wick's executive officer on the New York,
now attached to the League island Navy
Yard.
Lieut. r. T. Mulligan also attached to
the New York, and now executive of the
Lieutenant Commander N E. Mason,
executive of the Brooklyn and now in
charge of the torpedo station at Newport.
Lieutenant Commander A {. HodgSon,
who had an intert sting controversy with
Admiral Schley about the loop order and
now at Newport.
Commander j. A. Rodgers. who was ex-
ecutive of the Indiana and now in charge
of the Sixth lighthouse district
Commander 5. 2. Comfy. navigator of
the Indiana and now commanding the AL
lance.
Lieutenant Commander Seaton Schroe-
der, executive of the Massachusetts, and
who comes from Guam to appear before
the court.
Lieutenant Commander T. NJ. Potts. who
was navigator of the Massachusetts and
now executive of the Richmond.
Lieutenant Commander A. w. Grant,
who was attached to the Massachusetts
and now executive of the Indiana.
Lieut.. J. II. Glennon, who was on the
Massachusetts, and now attached to the
Vicksburg.
Lieut. r G. Dewey. nephew of the
Admiral and now on board the Alabama.
Lieutenant Commander G. NJ. Harber.
executive of the Texas and now naval
attache at Paris and st. Petersburg, who
viii present some facts in relation to the
celebrated loop. representing before the
court in a way his chief. the late Rear
Admiral John w. Philip. who was com
manding.
Commander L. Z. Henner. navigator of
the Texas, who is now connected with the
apprentice system at Brooklyn.
Lieut. Harry Phelps on the Texas. now
with Capt. c. ID. Sigsbee, IN Washington
Lieutenant Commanders! Alexander Sharp,
in command of the vixen, now on the
Hartford.
Lieut. Charles H. Harlow, executive Off
Ger of the Vixen. now at the Boston Navy
Yard.
Commander r. p Rodgers, OF the Iowa
now equipment officer of the Brooklyn
Navy Yard.
Lieut. w H schuetze. navigator of the
Iowa.
Lieutenant Commanders Ii. NJ. Witzel
y VI. - d.
Lieut. Louis S. Van Duzer also of the
Iowa. l71t'
Commander J. X CogsweH of the Ore
gon. v .
Lieutenant Commander r. F. Nichol-
son, navigator of the Oregon.
Lieutenant Commander w. II. Allen and
Lieut.. A. a. Ackerman. of the Oregon.
The death of Admiral Philip removes
an important witness in the case, espe-
cially in regard to the loop" Of the
Brooklyn. The enemies of Admiral
Schley are, however, placing much re-
lance upon a letter said to be in the
possession of Historian Maclay In which
Admiral Philip is said to have written
the following:
The Texas at this time was doing her
best to close on the Spaniards, when, to
my surprise and CONSERVATION ! saw the
Brooklyn swing around with port helm
when all the other American ships had
used the starboard hem-away from the
Spaniards and place herself directly in
our course. | was compelled TO stop and
reverse our engines, and even then came
nearer to a collision than ! could wish.
on account of this circumstance the Tex
as lost a splendid chance of closing with
the enemy.
Against this alleged correspondence is
the statement made by Admiral Philip in
his official report Of the battle. in which
gon which blanketed the fire of the Tex
as He does not in this report say any
thing about the Brooklyn.
The officials of the Navy Department
discredit the story telegraphed from BOs-
ton to the effect that Rear Admiral Howl
son, who has been selected as a member
of the Court of Enquiry, had expressed
himself in favor Of Sampson early in the
concerning the battle of San
tiagO.
When Admiral Howison was requested
by Mr.. Hackett. the Acting Secretary of
the Navy, to serve On the court. he was
explicitly asked If he had ever expressed
any opinion in the matter. Admiral How
ison replied that he had bias in the
case and that he had said nothing con-
cerning the controversy. He added that
he saw no reason why he should not serve
as a III. Inber of the tribunal.