The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-09
sGHLEY COURT OF INQUIRY.
cousel for schley Demanded That
Sampson be Called to Explain
His "Dear schIey" Letter.

Washington, Oc6. S.-11 0110 oo'
naval court of inquiry. Mr. Raynor'
chief of counesl for Admiral Schley,
asked Judge Advocate Lemly to sum-
mon Admiral Sampson as witness on
The case. The request grew out OF a
difference in the construction OF SEN
4ence in Admiral SIMPSONS letter TO
Commodore Schley when the flying
SQUADRON lay off Cienfuegos. This IS
knoyn as the "Dear Schley" letter,
and in it, as printed by the navy de-
Dartment documents supplied to the
senate, the admiral said, after express
inc his opinion that, notwithstanding
The report that the Spanish squadron
was in Santiago, it were better to con,
finue blockade Cienfuegos and
Habana. .sWe shall continue to hold
Habana and Santiago until we receive
more positive information.
During the examination OF Com
mander Raymond P. Rodgers, TINS
dispatch was under consideration when
Mr.. Raynor expressed the opinion that
the word Santiago had been lnadver-
tently used by the commander-ln-ch!ef,
assuming that he meant to use the
word Cienfuegos, as better correspond
ing with the context AS the docu-
n,ent was printed there was a paren-
Ihetical note to which Admiral Schley's
initials were attached, saying that
evidently the wrong city had oeen
mentioned. Mr.. Raynor asked Juoge
Advocate Lemly to make this conces-
sion. but the latter declined to do so,
saying that he would produce u! Sne
original of Admiral Sampson DIS
patch to prove that he had SAID Santl-
AGO. Then Mr.. Raynor said: 1 can
not take that word Santiago to mean
ANYTHING but Cienfuegos. 1t is an I'M
Dutation upon Commodore Schley,
and I cannot permit it to rest without
summoning the author OF that dis
Datch,'' to which Capt. Lemley re-
sponded 20 have told you once before
you can summon anyone you please.
ssThen.'' retorted Mr.. Raynor,
essummon Admiral Sampson. -
This occurred only short time be
fore the adjournment Of the court tor
The dav. and was the subject Of more
or less conversation of an animated
character after the days work was
concluded. Mr.. Raynor would only say
that he would insist upon the aomlral
being summoned unless the correctlon
was conceded.
Lieut.. Dyson, when court opened,
gave inforrnations as to how long the
supply of coal on hand on May %
WoaId have held out under forced
draft. It showed that on May 26 the
Brooklyn's supply of coal was 952 tons
the Iowa,s 7s4 tons: the Texas, 40S
fons. and the MarbleheaG, 122 tons.
Commander Raymond Rogers, who
was executive officer of the Iowa, testi-
fed that before leaving Key West on
Nav 20 he had had conference with
Sampson. He was told by Admiral
Sampson that he had received lnforma-
ton from the department at Washing
ton that the Spanish feet under Ger
vera was probably in the harbor at
Santiago. He had, however, not been
Informed of any secret code for com
znunication with the Cuban Insurgents
near Cienfuegos. Commander Rodgers
thought the Iowa could have coaled
May 26.
Capt. Rodgers related two or three
Instances in which the ships of the
Aying squadron were cleared for &C
lion upon signal from the flagship
BROOKLYN Nav 81 when vessels were
discerned in the distance. In each
case the vessels proved to be Ameri-
can ships. Each time the signal was
10 clear for action and make speed Of
y knots an hour. He also told of the
bombardment or reconnaissance Of the
Cristobal Colon.
The afternoon session of the court
began with Capt. Rodgers still on the
stand. He stated in reply to .ques-
tions that he was the senior member OF
the naval board of survey appointed
by Admiral Sampson to examine the
wrecked Spanish vessels.
The purpose of this line OF examlna-
ton was to bring out the wltness's
knowledge concerning the effect Of the
Brooklyn's gunnery in the battle OF
Santiago July 8. Capt. Rodgers stated
that the Brooklyn was the only vessel
that fred five inch shells and Mr.. Ray
nor said that careful computing
based upon the report of the board OF
survey showed that L FIVE inch shells
had been found on the four Spanish
vessels.
Mr.. Raynor presented statement
showing a number of shells found on
the vessels of the Spanish feet and the
witness was asked to state the per
centage Of five inch shells, assuming
the statement to be correct. Capt.
Rodgers replied that the total number
of hits constituted 81 per cent, Of all
the hits. Mr.. Raynor said that the
statement had been prepared by Adml-
raj Schley.
Mr.. Raynor read the Dear Schley"
letter including the following extract:
s.If after it should develop that
these vessels are at Santiago, we could
then assemble off that port the ships
best suited for the purpose and COM
pIetely, blockade it. Until we then
receive more positive information we
shall continue to hold Habana and
Mr.. Raynor remarked that he sup
posed it would be conceded that the
word Santiago as give above was
mistake and that it should be Cienfue-
Capt. Lemly replied that he would