Waterbury Democrat., 1901-10-24
SCRLEY TESTIFIES
The Admiral Called This Alter
 aoon to Explain Loop.
CAPT. CLARK ALSO ON STAND.

Is -NOM HI
 the Oregon Did Not See the Famous
 Ioop-Admiral Sehley Told the His
 tory of the Flying Squadron From
 the Time He Took Charge of It at
 Hampton Roads Until the Time the
 Spanish Fleet Was Smashed.
 Washington, Oct 24.-Every availa- ble unreseryed seat in the large room in the gunners' workshop at the navy yard, where the Schley court of in quiry is sitting. was occupied half an hour today before the court was called to order at II o'clock. The announce ment of the approaching close of the ease. and of the possibility that Au- miral Schley would take the witness stand during the day, had the effect of increasing the public interest ana of bringing to the court room larger number of persons than could be con yeniently accommodated, and a far larger number than could hear the pro ceedings. When the session began a number of yesterdays witnesses were recalled. as usual, for the correction of testimony and after they had con- cluded Lieutenant Commander Charles H. Harlow continued his testimony. He. had concluded his statement i'll chief when the court adjourned yester- day and he was immediately taken Ill hand to-day by Captain Lemly Tor cross-examination This was devoted principally to the notes taken py MT Harlow of the battle of July from the Yixen's deck, but was not very eX- 1erded After Commander Harlow, Rear Admiral Barker and Captain M. C. Borden of the marines, were lntro- duced to testify to incidents of rne Cuban campaign. Captain CharleS E. Clark, whose record on the oregon during the campaign of '9S is the boast of every American citizen, was called as the third witness of the day and the last witness in Admiral Schley's behaIf to he heard before the admiral hlmself should come on.
 Lieutenant B. ". Wells was the first of the former witnesses called 10 correct testimony After him came Major Murphy, who said that in steam ing back and forth in front Of the harbor of Santiago the flying squad ron went only eight hundred yards on either side not fiften hundred yards as was testified yesterday
 Commander Harlow was next on the stand and he said in regard to coaling that no one would have attempted to coal on May 9, and unless q person was experienced it would be imprac- ticable to coal on the morning of May 26
 Captain C. E. Clark of the Oregon was then called. He gave graphic description of the battle when the Spanish fleet was annihilated, but did not see the famous loop of the Brook lyn.
 At 2:06 there was flutter of excite ment as Rear Admiral Schley was called to the stand. He gave his name and rank and was then asked by Attorney Rayner to give 3 descrip. ton of his conduct of the campaign. He gave the particulars of his taking command of the flying squadron at Hampton Roads where he said the general plan of campaign was thrashed out. The captains of his squadron had diversified opinions and he re solved to take the helm himself. The question of torpedoes in the fleet was really discussed and he decided how they should best be cared for. He put the squadron immediately on a war footing and established pickets an patrol service. The masking of lights also was gone into and he direct ed how that should be done and it proved after some trial successful His plan was to attack the leading ship when she came out and concen- trate all the force on her. He did this because of the moral effect it would give the rest of the fleet and the confusion it would create. At tacking the fleet in the middle, as was proposed, would give chance to some of the vessels to escape. His plan was carried out and the result speaks for itself. He detailed his : meeting with Admiral Sampson where faegos as he believed the Spanish fleet was there. Schley himself said he believed the same thing.
 It is not yeI poss- Dle 10 say whether any witnesses will be called in rebuttal by the court, but it seems probable that few persons may be summoned for this purpose. The testimony yesterday led Judge Advocate Lemly and MT. Hanna to decide upon the calling of at least one rebutting witness, if he can be found. This is MT. Sylvester Scovel, whose testimony is desired in connec- tion with the incident of the meeting of the press boat Somers M. Smith by the scoutboat St. Paul while the latter was off Santiago in May, 1898. The first of yesterdays new witnesses, MT. James Hare, photographer on the press boat, stated that Captain Sigsbee of the St. Paul had told the correspondents aboard the Smith on May 26 or 27 that Cervera's fleet was not inside the har- Dor at Santiago. Mr. Scovel was among the correspondents on the Smith, and if he can be found he will be asked to come to Washington and give his testi- mony on this incident. It is also proba- ble that an effort will be made to rebut other portions of the testimony given in Admiral Schley's behalf, including Lieutenant Sears denial of a eotversa ton concerning Admiral Schley which the lieutenant is alleged to. have taken parT in on board the Massachusetts on &exT