The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-27
WISE CORRECTS
HIS TESTIMONY.
Admits He Did Not Direct Sigsbee
to Give SCh|ey Contents Of Navy
Department Dispatch.

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Washington, Sept 27.-As usual. Ad-
miral Dewey lost no time today In bring
ing the Schley court Of inquiry TO order.
Captain Lemiy and Mr.. Hanna, the navy
departments representatives had been in
the court room for an hour or more pre-
pairing the details for the days work.
They consider the present stage OF the
proceedings an important one. requiring
the most careful attention. Captain Lem
ly estimates that he will be able 90 con-
clude the presentation OF the government
side Of thee ase by the close OF next week,
II no unforeseen contingency arises to
cause delay. lie says he will have about
IS or 20. more witnesses to Introduce
One OF the regular attendants upon the
court is Mr.. William II. Stayton, the at
torney who In understood 10 be prepared
20 represent other naval officers than Ad-
miral Sampson. He sits outside the rail
and does not in any way participate In
the proceedings He said yesterday that
so long as Admiral Sampson was kept
out of the case he would have nothing to
say.
tAfI, WISE hECAIIsED.
Todays session began with the recall
OF Capt. Wise TO make verbal changes I'm
the official copy OF his testimony. He al
tered his previous statement concerning
the order OF the navy department OF May
-, 1898. i'm which he was directed 60 I'm
form every vessel of Santiago that the
flying squadron Is OFF Cienfuegos, say
ing that ne desired 20 correct his re-
sponse 10 the courts question az TO why
this order was not carried out. by stating
that It had been carried out. "rhe flying
squadron was ordered TO proceed with all
possible Dispatch" he said and ado I'd:
II did na. desire 10 inform the commo-
dorc OF the flying squadron OF his own
movements The order was TO inform
commanders of the movements OF the fly
ing squadron"
The court then asked did you direct
Capt Siesbee 10 give Commodore Schley
the Information contained I'm the dispatch
from the navy department regarding the
whereabouts OF the Spanish squadron"
II did not
CROSS EXAMINED.
Lieut. Spencer s. Wood who command
cd the dispatch boat dupont was then
called and continued his testimony be-
gun yesterday. Mr. Rsyner resumed his
cross examination.
The witness said that while of Glen
fuegos he had been on picket duty two
miles from shore on the night OF May %
and had been instructed 10 signal the
squadron with two red lights In case the
cnemy's torpedo boats came out OF the
harbor.
Mr. Rayner then read from the testi-
mony OF Capt. Harber OF tile Texas say
ing that there had been no picket ves-
sells within the line OF the fleet of Glen
fuegos. The witness said that the state
ment was wrong.
Captain I.emly said Captain Harber had
testified that there were no pickets. $50
far as he could recall" 10 which Mr.
Rayner responded.
I'VE are not impeachlng Captain lIar-
hers veracity We are impeaching his
recollection not his integrity
HARDER WAS WRONG.
Mr. Rayner Captain IIarber has stated
that there were no picket boats at Glen
fuegos. lie was wrong. was he not?
He was" replied the witness AS 7
have seen since the commander-in-chie
also reported that the Dupont was not
there have written the department that
! was there. other people forgot about
it too"
"You are trying now 20 Justify Cap
tain Harbers want of recollection by
wrote letter that there were no picket
boats there"
He did not mention their presence and
! corrected it / wish 10 bring II out that
the Dunont was inside the line aud that
is the report 7 made TO tie department
I still stand on the point that he r. not
bringing out where the torpedo boat Was +"
You are perfectly right about that.
but YOU are not asked I'm reference To
sny criticism YOU may have upon the re-
port OF the comma ander-in-chief The
question Is this: Can't liarber has def
ritely stated that there was no picket
boat inside the line az Cienfuegos You
ray there was. and that the Dupont was
one OF these boats
y was inside the line. Inside the CAS-
Ry The cour,-"could YOU see the Texas
from the Dupont during the nights OF
May % and 2a?''
mo. sir
OBJECTION MADE.
Mr. Hanna objected 10 Mr Rayucr's
method of questioning. especially 10 his
characterization OF Capt Harbers tesu-
r1ony az wrong when Capt Harber had
SAID distinctly that he only spoke from
his best recollection. "This. he said.
IS an indirect Impeachment o. The wit
Mr. Rsyner again insisted that he had
only intended to bring out the facts
Mr. Hanna asked what steps had been
takef while the fNing squadron was OF
Cienfuegos 20 ascertain the spanish fleet
Vas inside the harbor there.
''None that ] know Of, was tho re-
rponee
WAS there any effort 10 destroy the
shore batteries thero9'
The witness replied that he knew Of
some.
Lieutenant Wocd was then dismissed
am as Ne was leaving tho court room Mr
Hsnna took occasion 10 say.
MAKES AZ ANNOUNCEMENT
IT Will make an announcement while
Ne are wsiilnR. There has been in-
frocuced before the court a question of
the ccrrectuess or he identity 81 = cer-
tain very important dispatch sent hy The
Howard. May n, from an Santiago b.
ffc commanding officer of ne nyins
squadron. n appears that in the process
- usnsisuos irsn shs eommsndes-ln-