Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-10-25
ADMIRAL SCHLEY
Takes the Stand at Washington
in His Own Behalf.
Commences Careful and Minute Ac-
count Of Entire Campaign.
Great Audience Listens With Brcathless Inter.
est 10 Hero Of Santisgo.

Washington, Oct. .oi.-Admiral Schley,
today, took the stand in his own be-
half a. the court of inquiry which il;
investiga ting his conduct as command
er-in-chicf Of the flying squadron dur
ing the Santiago campaign. He was
summoned a few minutes after the
court convened ut 2 o'clock for the af-
ternoon session and when the court ad-
lourned at o'clock he apparently had
only gotten well under way in his tes-
timOny.
Capt. Charles l.. Clark of the Oregon.
had just concluded his statement. when
Mr.. Rayrer, rising from his seat said: ::
Il should like to have Rear Admiral
Schlcy called" and the admiral ac-
cordingly was asked to take the stand.
II was a turn in the proceedings for
which apparently neither the members
of the court. its officers nor The specta-
tors were prepared and a rnurmur of
surprise was heard on all sides 1t had
been expected that the admirals name
would be reached toward the close of
the afternoon session.
There We're still two witnesses ON his
list who had not been heard and it was
understood 10 be his purpose not to
take the stand until the entire list had
been exhausted He. however. respond
ed Immediately to the call. ana be-
fore the audience was well aware OF
the fact he had begun his narrative Of
the campaign which terminated in the
destruction of Cervera's s fleet
Mr.. Rayner introduced the testimony
OF his distinguished witness by saying:
viii you give the court your name
and rank"
Winfield Scott Schley. rear admiral,
United States navy. retired. AT present
on service in this court Of inquiry"
The admiral then in answer to a
question from his counsel proceeded to
give a careful ana detailed narrative Of
all the events of the campaign up to
tn" battle Of Santiago He had not
reached the stage of his testimony
where he will tell Of the battle when
court adjourned for the day.
The audience. which listened To his
has yct gathered in the gUnner's work
shop where the court sits. All the re
served seats were occupied. as were
those set apart for the public at large.
In the rear of the room stood probab
ly AS many people as found seats.
scores of men and women standing up
on tables. chairs and windows. il fact
anywhere from which they could see
the court.
There was no appearance of demon
stration of any kind during the ad-
mirafS recital. ON the contrary the
silence was almost funbroken except for
the sound Of the Witness own voice
Only once was theFe a stir in the room
which indicated anh feeling on the part
of the listeners. I5hat was when the
admiral. detailing} his conversation
with Admiral SAMPSON in the cabin of
the New York at Key West. told how
he had assured the Eommander-in-c -chief
of fealty to him.
When the court adjourned for the
day many Of thR spectators pressed
forward and shook the admirlrs hand.
49,
Lieutenant w. r. Wells was the first
of Of former witnesses called for the
purpose of correcting testimony. He
said in rcsponseI to a question from
Capt. Lcmly that Ihe had made a trans
lation of the cipher dispatch prepared
At Commodore Schley's instance. on
May "a. 1898, but which was never
sent and to which reference was made
while Lieut.. Wells was on the stand
yesterday.
Was the dispatch sent?" asked Ad-
mral Dewey and when he was told
that it had not been, the admiral said
il was not relevant. I'VE only want
the facts" he said.
Capt Lemly asld Mr.. Hanna contend
ed for it's admiS Ssion. Mr.. Hanna said
that it Indicated hesitation at critical
time.
Admiral Dewey tOld Capt. Lemly and
Mr. Hanna tha1 they could ask ques-
tions bearing upon any supposed con-
versation with Commodore Schley but
ruled again that the dispatch itself
could not be introduced.
Mr.. Hanna started to examine the
witness when the latter again referred
tD the dispatch. Mr.. Rayner objected.
Mr.. Hanna said he had a right to refer
to it to refresh his memory.
1.-THE court decided it. as we decide it
n,Pw. that this cannot gol-in,' said Ad-
ntiral Dewey. Now let us go on to
something else. We are losing lot
of time here"
Major Murphy corrected his testi-
mpny of yesterday. so as to say that
the vessels of the flying squadron in
steaming back and forth at night in
front Of the mouth of the harbor at
Santiago had gone only about 800