The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-04
BROOKLYN'S PART
HER SHARE IN SANTIAGO FIGHT
DISCREDITED.
DOYLE AGAIN ON THE STAND,
WITNESS DOES NOT SAY MUCH
ABOUT THE LOOP.

Was Probably Too Busy Handling
the Guns to Notice It-He Says the
Colon Obtained n Lead of Five or
rets Were Given n "SpeIl" on Deck
During the Chase-Schley Gave
Orders to the Oregon by Wigwag
signaIs-He Was Sure of This but
Found No Record in the Log.
Washington, Oct. 3.-After Lieut.
Doyle, formerly of Commodore Schleys
flagship, the Brooklyn, had completed
his testimony before the Schley court
of inquiry to-day, Capt. William G.
Dawson of the marine corps was called
and he was followed by Lieut.. Charles
w. Dyson, of the bureau of steam en-
gineering of the Navy Department.
Lieut.. Dyson was introduced to tes-
tify concerning the coal supply of the
Flying squadron, but the court ad-
journed for the day before he could be
heard.
At the opening of court Lieut.. Doyle
resumed his testimony. Mr.. Rayner
asked whether the Brooklyn had en-
gagged in any bombardments during
the month of June, 1898. Judge Advo-
cate Lemly objected, but Admiral
Dewey said that if the question was
confined to the Brooklyn there would
be no objection. Mr.. Rayner modified
his question and Lieut.. Doyle replied
q :
piled spiritedly, but soon went out of
business.
Mr.. Rayner then asked:
What was Admiral Schley's conduct
and bearing at any time either during
the bombardment or during the battle
of July 8, when his ship was under
fire?"
He always struck me as being just
about as well possessed as it was pos
sible for anybody to be under those
circumstances"
Mr.. Rayner then asked the witness
whether on July 2, 1898, he had OBJ
served smoke coming from Santiago
harbor over Zocopa Hill.
Capt. Lemly objected, contendins
that the certain effect of such ques-
tions would be to open the gates for
interminable inquiry and that If one
side should enter upon such questions
the other side also must be allowed to
do SO. They did not object except for
the reason of the time involved.
Mr. Rayner was then permitted to
ask his question, which he did in the
following words:
WAS the smoke observed on July
by Commodore Schley, communicated
to the squadron"
The reply was: H-
Smoke was observed rising in the
harbor on July 2, and my impression
now is and always has been since that
night that that information was con-
veyed to the commander-in-chi
The witness was then requested to
give a brief account of the part taken
by the Brooklyn in the battle of July
8, which he did, repeating much that
he had said yesterday.
His Account OF the Battle.
After stating the preliminaries Lieut.
Doyle related his observations of the
battle in the following language:
Il fired the left gun first, and Hal
ligan shortly afterward fired the right
one. Then he began to load the guns
again. 1t was necessary then after
loading the guns a second time to turn
the turret directly ahead, as our ship
was apparently shutting the enemy
out by turning with a starboard helm
Immediately after firing that left gun
the second time, the order was to man
the starboard battery. 1 got out of
the turret through the roof, that being
the most convenient way of getting out,
and crossed over to the starboard tur-
ret. AS l was going into the starboard
turret I had an opportunity to see the
Spanish ships. They were then a lit
tie on our starboard bow. AS soon as
1 had charge of the controller, which
up to this time had been in charge Of
Mr.. Woodward, 1 swung the turret
around on to the starboard bow. In
the meantime some of our forward guns
had fired. The volume of smoke was
so great that it must have come from
one of the S-inch guns of the forward
turret, so / was entirely shut out
from seeing the enemy. While the
guns were in this position Mr.. Mason,
our executive officer, passed down the
starboard gangway, calling, Sharp on
the starboard quarter!'
A Two-Minute Interval.
"The interval of time from the time
the guns were on the starboard bow
or starboard quarter, L think must
have been two minutes. l swung the
guns around to the starboard quarter
range at which l fired, to the best of
my memory, was about 1,4O0 yards and
from then on it was a constant fire,
training the guns until we finally got
them on the starboard beam. The
range increased up to 1000 yards, and
during the run, after being parallel
with the Spanish ships. the range
varied from about 1900 to 1900. I
think whe nte Viscaya went on shore
the range then was about 1900 yards.
Just Immediately before she turned in
she made a sheer with her starboard
helm, apparently coming toward us,
and then Immediately put helm around
the other way and went inshore. From
then on it was a chase after the Co.
lon"
The Chase of the Colon.
Describing the chase of the Colon,
lent. Doyle said the Spanish ship had
secured a lead of five or six miles.
'sThe order was given to cease firing
and to come out of the turrets and take
a SMELL during the chase of the Colon.
THE oregon, during that chase and
while we were on the top of the turret
was directed to try her 13-inch guns on
the chase, which she did, and the shots
fell short. In q little while they were
tried again and came little closer"
Admiral Dewey: Directed by
whom?" -
wag signal. as ! remember IT.
Admiral Dewey: You saw that Sig
! nal?" -, A..
nlaue' r,.ha,,,. nT1fd vo, read thn