Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-05

engineering, concerning the coal supply
of the flying squadron; Commander
Raymond r. Rodgers, who was second
in command OF the battleship Iowa dur
ing the Spanish war, and carried Ad-
miral SIMPSONS dispatches Of May y
to Commodore Schley. and Commander
Albion c. Hodgson, who YVES the navi-
gator of the flagship Brooklyn. While
Commander Rodgers was on the stand
Mr.. Rayner sumbitted a computation
of shells from the American fleet which
had struck the wrecked vessels OF Ger
veras squadron, showing that at lie st
"a per cent of them were fired by the
Brooklyn. The computation, Mr.. Ray
ner said, had been prepared by Admiral
Schley upon the basis of report made
by board of survey, Of which the
witness was the senior member
Commander Hodgson gave a graphic
description OF the battle off Santiago.
describing the part, taken in 1t by the
Brooklyn and explaining the change In
the entry of that vessel s log.
Commander Raymond p. Rodgers,
who was executive officer of the battle
ship Iowa during the summer OF 1898,
testified to leaving Key West on May
20 for Cienfuegos. TO join the flying
squadron. Before leaving he had had,
as representative of Captain Evans. he
said, conference with COMMANDMENTS
chief Sampson, at which Captains Iay-
lor and Chadwick were present. AT
that time he was told by Admiral
Sampson that he had received infor-
nation from the department at WASH
ington that the Spanish fleet under
Cervera, was probably in the harDof
OF Santiago.
Captain Rodgers was examined at
length concerning the coaling OF the
flying squadron.
Could you have eoaled the Iowa on
the afternoon Of May 26th?" Mr.. Hanna
asked.
In the late afternoon. the time |
speak of, the weather being fine ana
smooth. | think there would have been
no trouble at ali. replied the witness.
when the collier can deliver coal
can battleship like the Iowa take it?'
with a ship like the Iowa with no
broadside guns the danger in coaling
at sea is entirely to the collier
rs there any more danger to
collier with a battleship an each side?
There would he very great danger TO
a collier in coaling battleshps with a
battleship on each side
Captain Rodgers stated in reply to
questions that he was the senior mem
Der of the naval board of survey ap-
pointed by Admiral Sampson to exam
inc the wrecked Spanish vessels.
The purpose of this line of examina-
ton was to bring out the witness
knowledge concerning the effect OF the
Brooklyns gunnery in the battle or
Santiago. July 8. Captain Rodgers
stated that the Brooklyn was the only
vessel that fired five-inch sholls. and
Mr.. Rayner said that careful comDu-
tation based upon the report of the
board of survey showed that twelve
five-inch shells had been found on the
four Spanish vessels.
Mr. Rayner presented statement
showing the number of shells found on
the vessels of the Spanish fleet, and
the witness was asked TO state the per-
eentage of five-ineh shells, assuming
the statement to be correct. Captain
Rodgers replied that the total num-
Der of hits was thirty-fve, and thst
therefore the five-inch shell hits con-
stituted "a per cent of all the hits. Mr.
Rayner said that the statement had
been prepared by Admiral Schley. The
witness also said ne knew that the
Brooklyn had eight-inch guns, but Mr..
Rayner said the admirals computation