Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-07

witnesses were introduced.
Lieutenant Dyson, who was on the wit
ness stand yesterday when the court adj
journed was then recalled. He had added
to his coal history OF the fleet informa-
ton as 70 how long the supply OF coal on
hand May 26 would have held out under
forced draft The information was con-
tanned in a chart which was read by Judge
Advocate Lemley. The witness also read
the same Information from tabular
statement. The chart covered the period
from May IS TO June l. II showed that on
May Is. the Brooklyn's supply Of coal was
So tons; the Iowa's 7S4 tons; the Texas 4OS
tons and the Marblehead 20 tons.
May "a the Brooklyn had coal enough
aboard 10 have remained on blockade duty
or Santiago for Is days and then 10 have
returned to Key West, the Mas
sachosetts to remain u days and
then go TO Key West. the Iowa
enough for II days. the Texas
seven days and the Marblehead one day.
Lieutenant Dyson was followed on the
stand by Commodore Raymond p. Rodg-
ers. who was executive officer OF the bat
tleship Iowa during the summer of 1895
He testified to leaving Key West on May
20 for Cienfuegos to join the flying squad
ron. Before leaving he had. as a repre-
sentative OF Captain Evans. he said, a
conference with the commander in chief
Chadwick were present. At that time he
was told by Admiral Sampson that he had
received Information from the department
al Washington that the Spanish fleet I'M
der Cervera was probably in the harbor
at Santiago. He had, however, not been
Informed OF any secret code for commune
cation with the Cuban insurgents near
Cienfuegos. He had, he said, taken dis
patches for Commodore Schley, and while
not certain whether there was more than
one package. he was under the impress
sion there was more than that number.
rs there any more danger TO a collier
with a battleship on either side?"
There would be. very great danger to a
collier in cealing battleships with bat
tleship on either side
Captain Rodgers related two or three
instances In which the ships of the flying
squadron were cleared for action on sig
nal from the flagship Brooklyn before
May 81. when vessels were discerned in
the distance. In each case the vessels
proved TO be American ships. Each time
the signal was TO clear for actions and
make speed OF u knots an hour.
Captain Rodgers stated that the Brook
Ign was the only vessel that fired five
inch shells and Mr.. Raynor said that a
careful computation based upon the re-
port OF the board OF survey showed that
twelve five-inch shells had been found on
the spanish vessels.
Mr.. Raynor presented a statement show
ing the number OF shells found on the
vessels OF the Spanish feet and the wit
ness was asked to state the percentage of
five inch shells assuming the statement to
be correct.
Captain Rodgers replied that the total
number OF hits was thirty-five and that
therefore the FIVE inch shell hits consti-
tutee thirty-four per cent. Of all the hits.
Mr. Raynor said that the statement had
been prepared by Admiral Schley.
The witness also said he knew that the
Brooklyn had eight-inch guns but Mr.
Raynor said the admiraFs computation
was not intended 10 cover that feature.
His only purpose was to make the show
ing for five-inch guns.
Cross examination about the dispatch
he carried Captain Rodgers was asked II
the Dear Schley'' letter dated at Key
West. May 20, 1895. written by Admiral
Sampson In which the statement was
made that am OF the opinion that our
best chance OF success in capturing the
enemy's ships will be 10 hold Cienfue-
gos and Havana was included in these
dispatches. The witness replied that he
had no knowledge what the envelope con-
tanned. While the examination was IN
progress. Mr.. Raynor read the letter in
GLIDING the following extract:
''If later IT should develop that the yes
sells are at Santiago we could then as
semble OF that port the ships best suited
for the purpose and completely block
ade. Until we receive more positive in
formation we shall continue TO hold Ha-
vana and Santiago"
Mr.. Raynor remarked that he supposed
II would be conceded that the Santiago as
given above was a mistake and that It
should be Cienfuegos. Captain Lemley
replied that he would make no such con-
cession. and tilt followed between coun-
sci concerning the accuracy Of govern
ment publications.