The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-03
which ] read over and enclosed in my
report to the Admiral
THE CLTANcEc ny THE MOTIFS

THE CHANGES IN THE NOTES.
Judge Advocate Lemly had the wit
ness compare the original copy of the
Harlow notes with the copy wrnted on
board the Brooklyn; with the result of
showing that the notes had been changed
before being printed so as to make the
account say that at. 1906 the two lead
ing ships of the enemy "bore well on the
Brooklyn's starboard quarter" instead OF
on her "starboard bow" and that at
II .45 the Brooklyn was zone point on
port bow instead of one point on star
board bow. 1t was developed that these
changes placed the Brooklyn farther
ahead and nearer the shore.
Mr.. Rayner: 81 want to see if you
recollect this incident. Do you remem-
Der that on the afternoon of the first
or second of July you were called along
side the Brooklyn. and by megaphone
message from Lieutenant Sears, speak
ing for Commodore Schley, directed to go
to the New York and report to Admiral
Sampson that Commodore Schley had OBJ
served suspicious movements of smoke in
the harbor indicating vessels were NOV
ing toward the entrance and that CommO-
dOre Schley thought the enemy was pre-
pairing to come on; that you did go to the
New York and report to Admiral Samp
son, as directed, and that by Admiral
Sampson you were ordered to go to each
vessel on the blockade and repeat Com
me dore Schley'S message with an addit-
ional order from Admiral Sampson di-
recting the ships to close in and keep
a sharp lookout, that you performed this
duty, and so reported later in the same
day that you had done as directed?"
II have no remembrance of the oc-
currence. I am sorry to say. I wish /
could remember"
In response to questions Commander
Sharp said that according to Lieut.. Har-
lows notes as recorded in the Vixen's
log the flagship New York had come up
about an hour and fifteen minutes after
the Cristobal Colon had surrendered.
The record read that the New York had
arrived three to five minutes after the
arrival Of the Vixen, which had been
at 2:25.
By the court what signals, if any,
were made by the Brooklyn from the
commencement to the end of the battle
of July 3?''
'"The Brooklyn had hoisted a signal
enemy attempting to escape. That is
in the notes. There may have been
others, but do not find any here"
BY the court: Estate the orders un-
der which you acted when on blockade
off Santiago"
MY impression is that received my
instructions from Commander McCalla
to go inside Of the line of vessels and
to the seaward Of Santiago, about two
miles. That is for the 29th, 30th and
31st of May"
LIEUT.. DOYLE QUESTIONED.
Lieutenant Doyle said his first i'm
preston had been that the Brooklyn
made her turn with the starboard helm.
The witness read to the court that
part of the log book which relates to
the turning of the port helm, as fol-
lows: 1.-THE enemy stood towards us at
first, then put helm aport and stood
along shore close in to the westward.
We engaged with port battery at first,
standing in for the Maria Teresa, the
Colon and the Viscaya, all three of
which we engaged, but as soon as the
enemy stood to the westward, put helm
to port, swinging Ca little interlination
here) "a little free of the Texas, so as to
bring the starboard battery to bear and
SLOOQ paFdl1el TO the enemy.
The witness then stated that the origi-
nal entry in the log had made it appear
that the helm was put to starboard in
stead of to port, as it appears in the
permanent log. The change, he said,
had been made on the 5th of July, two
| days after the action after he had had
/ discussion with Sharp.
Mr.. Rayner then took the witness and
l.:
| change in the log was due to an error
on the part of the witness and to no
desire upon the part of anybody to
| falsify the facts?'
absolutely" was the response.
MERELY A Reconnaissance.
Lieutenant Doyle then discussed the
events previous to Schley's blockade of
! Santiago. Lieutenant Doyle placed the
| distance of the American fleet off San
tiagO from the mouth of the harbor at
| from three to four miles, and said there
! were picket boats on the inside of the
| line. Speaking of the bombardment of
| the Colon on the 31st of May, he and
| Mr.. Rayner designating it as a recon
| noissance, Lieutenant Doyle said that
| it's effect had been to develop the fact
J that the Spanish had new guns in their
| land batteries.
Here Mr.. Rayner. when was the
circular form of blockade commenced?"
While no mention was made of the
| name of Admiral Sampson this question
was regarded as an attempt to bring his
blockade into the case for purpose of
comparison and Captain Lemly was
prompt in noting a sharp and vigorous
objection.
Without waiting for any argument
on the point the court Immediately an
nounced a brief recess. The. members
retired for a few minutes and when
they returned Admiral Dewey said:
''The court has decided that all questions
relating to the blockade off Santiago
must be confined to the time prior to
i the arrival of the commander-in-c chief !"
The court then adjourned for the day.