Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-10-23
STRONG FOR SCHLEY.
Geo. {. Graham, The Associ-
ated Press Representative,
Who Went Through the Battle With
Schley on the Brooklyn,
Straightens Out Numerous Points in Way Most
Favorable to Admiral.

court OF inquiry opened. today. with
Lieut.. B. W. Well. Jr. who was Com
modore Sciley's flag lieutenant during
the spanish war. still on the stand. but
he was soon displaced TO allow Yeoman
Albert Y. Mason, who had written the
l;rookiyn's log for the period covering
the Santiago campaign TO testify. Mr..
Mason explained the erasures In the log
entry referring 70 the Brooklyn's turn
on the day OF the battle of Santiago.
He was followed by George T.. Ora
ham. who as an Associated Press cor
respondent was with Commodore
Schley during the entire campaign. Mr..
Oiraham'S testimony covered all tn"
principal events Of the caInpaign and
discussed especially the bnnbnr'iruent
OF the Spanish ship Colon. May 81. am.
the battle of Santiago. Jay :. MI
Graham testified 10 hearing 4 conv-rsa-
ton between tniHiirrfui.. :, li.ry ana
capt. SisSbc. when the l:ltt,r cam.
aboard the flagship Rroukiyn of Santi-
ago, May %, lie sait that H.. nad dis
tinctly heard capt. S.ssbr" tell iiit.
commGGorr that III" spanish fleet was
not inside The hurbor al Santiago.
Mr.. Graham also stated that admiral
Schlcy had told him that the object OF
the bombardment of May 81 was to
develop the Spanish land batteries. and
ne said that the range was fixed at ZOO
or 1900 yards in order TO draw their
fire He further said with reference
to the events uf this engagement that
he had heard no conversation in which
Commodore Schley said that The off
GERS in their white uniforms were con-
spicuous objects.
MIR. Graham detailed conversation
between Commodore Schley and Capt.
ieobley D. Evans, wAich took place af-
ter the Santiago engagement. There
was some discussion over the admissi-
biity of this statement. but the court
decided that any conversation between
the commodore and any one else bear
ing upon the case was admissible.
The witnesses for the afternoon We're
Dennis j. Cronin. who was Admiral
Schley'S orderly and " no testified along
the same lines as Mr.. Graham as to the
conversation with Capt. Sigsbee: Lieut..
Com. VIM. r. Rush. who said he
thought the NiZcaya had planned TO
ram the Brooklyn: Lieut.. Edward
Simpson. who gave q very graphic pic
ture Of the battle OF July 5; and Lieut.
Edward T. Fitzgerald. an assistant en-
Sineer who was on duty in the fire
room. July and who testified that an
order had been given early in the ac-
tion to stand by for any possible at
tempt at rammng by the Spaniards.
Lieut.. Wells resumed the witness
stand soon after the Schlev court of
inquiry was called to order at IL
O'Clock. today. and continued his mar
rative OF the events of the Cuban cam
paiSn of 1895 He was under cross-ex-
animation by Judge Advocate Lenly
and his assistant Mr.. Hanna, when
the court adjourned, yesterday. and
they continued their questions. today.
Lieut.. Wells was followed by a. V.
Mason, the log writer of the Brooklyn.
who wrote the logs on that vessel dur
ing the Cuban campaign.
G.. l.. Graham. the correspondent of
The Associated Press. who was on
board the Brooklyn with Admiral
Schley during the entire campaign. was
also on the list of today's witnesses.
The early attendance upon the court.
today. was some larger than on pre-
vious days, indicating the increasing
attractiveness Of the court as Il public
spectacle.
capt. Lemly began his examination
of Lieut.. Wells by asking him wheth
cr there was kept a book of records
showing letters received on the Brook
lyn rs Lieut.. Commander Sears had
testified there was. The witness re-
Piled there was no such book kept but
there was record of letters sent to
and received from vessels of the squad
ron.
Lieut.. Wells also was questioned
about the department orders concern
ing the isking Of the American ships
10 bOmbardmcnt from shore batteries