Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-13

| staten thdt III the American Meet had
been defeated Admiral Sampson would
have been asked how 1t had occurred.
Mr. frost said he had suggested that
| the pubic seemed disposed to give the
credit to Schley. In response he tcsti-
fed, Admiral Howison went on to say
| that SIMPSONS standing as an officer
| and as a man was greatly superior to
that of Schley.
| What he said pursued the witness,
| inclined me 10 the belief that he mad
no use for Admiral Schlcy."
| The witness also gave in detail the
| circumstances leading up to the publ
| cation.
on cross -eXamination he was shown
| the prccept and was asked by Solicitor
Hanna If Admiral Howison had ex-
| pressed an opinion on the points in the
| precept. The witness thought he had
not, as many points in the precept We're
| not involved in the conversation. The
witness adhered strictly TO his first
statement.
on redirect examination. Mr.. Ray
nor asked: What was Admiral Howl
sons manner during his conversation
with you?"
| He spoke Of Schley I'm what ! would
call a sneering manner" replied the
| witness.
| Occasionally during the examination
OF this witness there was slight issue
| between counsel but on the whole there
| was little or no objection TO the lines
| on which the evidence wac developed.
| W. T.. Spon of the firm 81 Spon x
| Chamberlain, booksellers and publish
ers, in New York ana London testified
that he had been a passenger on the
steamer Minneapolis. which sailed from
London for New York oct. III 1900, and
that Admiral Howison also had been a
| passenger. The witness related that
one day during the voyage the Samp-
SON Schley controversy came ~ ana
| one gentleman expressed himself as
| favorable ~ Admiral Sampson. Mr-
Spon had taken the opposite side and
| in his effort to show that Admiral
| Sampson Was not a fit man for that no
sition. mad remarked that tHr admiral
| had been the last member Of the board
Of ordnance to agree 70 the use n
smokeless powder NY the navy.
MIR Spon said that Admiral Howison
came within hearing of The converse
| ton ana said
men do not know what you are talk
| ing about You don't know anything
about it, Sampson is very much re-
| spcctcd and looked UP to. ,-pe' tally by
the younger members ~ the navy
Continuing, the witness said that
some colIoquy had followed after hIch
| Admiral Huwi~"n had sara. Anyhow.
| Schley should have been courtmartIai-
| led. He WAS the main cause Of an this
| controversy IN the newspapers
MIR Spon said that Admiral Howison
had seemed much excited during his
| conversation.
From his whole manner. thu vii
| ness went on, 4 Inferred that he Was a
very violent partisan ~ sampson and
| Correspondngly pIcJudiced against
Schley. He was not content 10 correct
me ar Ia Amiral Sampson. but seemed
willing to say bitter things. almost
vindiCtiVcly. against Admiral Schiey.
Mir Spon was succeeded by Mir Eos
ter Nichols OF Yonkers, y. y. Admiral
Huwisons place OF residence. Mr..
| Nichols is interested in naval puhlica-
| tions ana in this capacity called upun
| Admiral Howison. July last. for the
| purpose Of securing from him notes for
a biography Of the admiral HI stated
| that the day on which the can was
made was very hot and on this account
| the admiral had asked To be excused
| from granting an interview. Mr.
| Nichols said that after this CONVERSE
| ton he had procured copy " the
| work which his house was getting out.
| containing sketches of the leaders in
| the Spanish American war ami con
| tanning pictures W Sampson and Sch
| ley. The witness said that at the sight
| OF SChleys picture Howisnn said .,Chiey
| had no business In the navy ana
| added that If SChley were in the Eng
| lish navy h would have been nut out
| for less cause than there is in his ease.
| Il asked the witness continued.
| "the reason why Schley should have
| been out Admiral Howlson replied
| For disobedience of orders | asked
| why. if he disobeyed orders. he was
| permitted to remain. The admiral re
| piled Because he gave the excuse that
| he had To go to port TO coal: vet every
| one knows that coaling at sea il posi-
| BILE"
The witness said that he had ex-
pressed surprise At Admiral Howl
| sons attitude and that in reply the
| admiral had said: You would not he
| surprised if YOU We're in touch with the
| sentiment among naval officers
Witness said that in response to an
| inquiry from himself Admiral Howison
| had explained the absence Of Admiral
| Sampson from the scene of action when
the Santiago naval battle occurred BY
| saying:
The explanation is that there had
| been lack of cooperation between the
land and naval forces and Sampson
| was trying to harmonic them. The
day on which the battle occurred was
| the last day on earth when the Spanish
fleet should have been expected to
! come out"
After the hearing Cf this testimony tho
| court took recess to permit Admiral How
| ison to formulate statement. The court
| remained absent from the room for about
| 10 minutes and when it reconvened .Ad-
| miral Howison presented his reply to the
charges against himself. His statement
| was as follows:
| Mr. President and Gentlemen: In
| reply to the objection to me as men,
| per of this court | submit n COPY of