Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-10-05

Washington, Oct. 3.--An intero st ng
turn was given to the Schley court OF
inquiry yesterday by the introduction
of the first witness on Admiral Schley's
behalf. This was Lieutenant james J
Doyle, who was watch officer on board
the flag ship Brooklyn during the wal
with Spain. The fact that Lieu. enant
mean that the navy department has
concluded the presentation of its side
of the case. Mr.. Doyle was called by the
department, but since 1t also had been
the purpose of Admiral Schley to sum
mon him, advantage was taken of his
presence on the stand to question him
as an original witness for the appli-
cant" He was under examination by
Mr.. Rayncr in the interest of the adj
mirnl when the court adjourned.
Before undergoing eXnminnt on mt
Mr.. Rayner's hands. Lieutenant Doyle
mt Captain Lemly's request explain
his part in the battle of July 3 and his
original entry. in the ships log con-
ccrning the famous loop and his alter
alton of that entry because he subse-
uuently discovered that his first entry
had been erroneous.
Lieutcnant- Commander Sharp. who
commanded the Vixen during the Span
ish war; also gave his testimony during
the day. giving especial attention to
notes of the battle of July 3, made by
Lieutenant Harlow of his ship.
Just before the adjournment for the
day the court announced its d, ciSiOn
not to allow any questions concern :
the blockade of Santiago after July 1,
when Commnn'lrr-inC Chief admiral
Sampson arrived.
The testimony up to today has been
ex-partc and of course prrjudic.al to
Admiral Schlry.
The evidence Of Admiral Evans. Cap
tain McCnllH. Captain Sigsbne and
Lieutenant Hood bears heavily against
the contention that Admiral Schl"y act
ed like Il man of natural decision whose
energies were confined by adverse cir
cumstanceS over which ne could have
no control. There Is no longer room to
doubt according to their testimony that
there were four days. perhaps more, in
which the Spanish fleet could have gone
to sea from Santiago harbor without
encountering any resistance capable Of
seriously retard' ng its progress.
1t is known now that the Spanish fleet
arrived in SAINT ago harbOr on the 10Th
of May. the very day on which the
Eagle. 30 miles west of Key West. in
formed the flying squadron. then on s
way to Ci, nfuegoS. that on the 18th
CcrveraS squadron certainly was not
at Cicnfurgos. On the 25d of May
Schlcy was at Cicnfucgos. and was so
confident that Crrvern'S squadron was
in that port that, in reply to Admiral
SIMPSONS dispatches. telling him of he
report of the arrival of Cervera ut San-
tiago he wrote: II think | have them
tthe Spanish tlect. here tCienfucg, s.,
almost to Il certainty" 1t was not un-
til the next day. when Capt. McCalla 's
reconnaissance demonstrated beyond MI
question that CerveraS fleet was not in
CienfuegOs harbor. that Schlpy got
under way for Santiago, which he
reached on the Goth.
Cervera's fleet had then been seven
days ut Santiago. From the testimony
of the government witnesses it does not
appear that Commodore Schley made
any effort to find out whether his the ry
of the Spanish fleet was correct until
Captain McCalla took the matter into
his own hands. This neglect to find cut
the actual situation in Cienfuegos har-
Dor was the more remarkable rs Lieu