Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-10-10
SAMPSrON Will TRTIFY
Unless Department Comedies Err
ror In "Dear Schley" Letter.
HopesoN TAKES THE STAND
Acknowledges Correctness Of the
Strategic Manouver For Which the
Brooklyn Made the Famous Loop.
Says SchIey Gave the Order.

says SchIey Gave the Oroer.
Washington, Oct. Sin the Schley
naval court Of inquiry Mr.. Rayner.
asked Judge Advocate Lemly to sum-
mon Admiral Sampson as a witness
in the case. The request grew out of
a difference in the construction of a
sentence in Admiral SIMPSONS letter
to Commodore Schley. written from
Key West May 20, while Commodore
Schley with the flying squadron lay off
Cienfuegos. This is known as the
Dear Sir" letter, and in it as printed
in the navy department documents
supplied to the senate the admiral
said. after expressing his opinion that
Notwithstanding the report that the
Spanish squadron was in Santiago. 1t
were better to continue to blockade
Cienfuegos and Havana. 1--WE shall con-
time to hold Havana and Santiago un.
Ill we receive more positive informa-
ton"
During the examination of Com
mander Raymond P. Rodgers this dis
patch was under consideration, when
Mr., Rayner expressed the opinion that
the word Santiago had been inadvert-
emily used by the commander-in-chief
assuming that he meant to use the
word Cfenfuegos, as better correspond
ing with the context. AS the docu.
ment was printed there was paren,
thetical note, to which Admiral
Schley's initials were attached, saying
that evidently the wrong city had been
mentioned. Mr.. Rayner asked Judge
Advocate Lemly to make this conces-
sion. but the latter declined to do So
saying that he would produce the
original of SIMPSONS dispatch to
prove that he had said Santiago. Then
Mr.. Rayner said: Il cannot take that
word Santiago to mean anything but
Cienfuegos. 1t is an imputation upon
Commodore Schley, and | cannot per-
NIT it to rest without summoning the
author of that dispatch" to which
Captain Lemly responded: II have
told you once before that you can sum-
mon any one you please"
Then, retorted Mr.. Rayner, sum.
mon Admiral Sampson"
While Commander Rodgers was on
the stand Mr.. Rayner submitted a
computation of shells from the Amer
lean fleet which had struck the wreck
ed vessels of Cervera's squadron,
showing that at least "a per cent. of
them were fired by the Brooklyn. This
computation Mr.. Rayner said had been
prepared by Admiral Schley upon the
basis of a report made by the board
OF survey, of which the witness was
the senior member.
Commander Hodgson gave graphic
description of the battle of Santiago
describing the part taken by the
Brooklyn, and explaining the change
in the entry of that vessels log.
OF the Maria Teresa he said:
''He had hardly made that sheer,
however. to port before he fell off
again. for the reason, apparently, that
a shot was fired from the Brooklyns
S-inch gun. The Teresa got abaft our
port beam, and the helm was ported
on the Brooklyn Immediately after
that We were swinging with port
helm. l heard the commodore sing
out: Hard aport,' or words to that
effect, and Captain Cook sang out.
Helm is aport.' | saw at that time
the crucial moment had arrived in
making the turn, and suggested to
the commodore that that turn would
run us into the Texas, or very close to
her"
What did you say and what was
the reply?" asked the Judge advocate.
'As near as l can remember, said,
Commodore, if you 90 to starboard
you will run into the Texas and he
said. Damn the Texas. | cannot help
that. She must look out for herself
He will take care Of that And he also
said, 1 do not propose to go in any
closer and subject myself to torpedo
attack suggested then that we back
the starboard engine, and he wanted
to know why. and l said Because it
would give the Texas wider berth
and shorten our turning circle Cap
tain Cook objected to this, and 80 did
the commodore, but there was a mo-
ment's discussion as to whether it
would be better to turn on that shorter
circle with smaller speed or take the
larger tactical diameter with faster
speed. 1t was decided that it was
very essential to get around quickly,
as the leading Spanish ship was then
standing to the westward, and if the
Brooklyn did not stop her she had
good chance of escaping. So the helm
was put hard aport.
At Thursdays session Lieutenant
Doyle, formerly of the flagship Brook
lyn, was recalled for the purpose OF
continuing his testimony begun the
day before. One of the first questions
asked him by Mr.. Rayner was how
often he had seen Commodore Sohley
under fire At Santiago.
Il did not have an opportunity. as
the commodore was always near about
the coming tower, to observe his con-
duct during the battle, but Immediately
previous and after l did have an op-
portunity to do SO. He always struck
me- m bein9 inst about as we'll nossaoo-