Evening journal., 1901-10-03
SCHLkY OPENS
His DRFBNNR
Lieutenant Doyle, Of the
Brooklyn, First Witness
RaYner'S Effort 10 Bring in Admiral
SampSOn'S Plan Of Blockade
Are Squelchpd

court of inquiry by the introduction
OF the first witness In Admiral Sehleys
behalf This was Lieutenant James
J. Doyle. who was a watch officer on
board the flagship Brooklyn during
the war with Spain. The fact that
Lieutenant Doyle was put on the stand
does not mean that the navy depart.
ment has concluded the presentation
OF its side Of the case. Mr. Doyle was
called by the department but as Il
also had been the purpose of Admiral
Schley to summon him, advantage was
taken of his presence on the stand to
question him as an original witness
for the applicant He was under ex-
animation by Mr.. Rayner in the inter
est of the admiral when the court ad-
journed for the day.
Before undergoing examination at
Mr.. Rayner's hands Lieutenant Doyle,
at Captain Lemly's request, explained
his part in the battle of July 3 and his
original entry in the ships log con
cerning the famous loop and his alter
alton OF that entry because he subse-
quently discovered that his first entry
had been erroneous.
In response to questions by Captain
Lemly. Doyle said that during the
battle off Santiago he had had charge
Of the two waist turrets. He had. he
said. written the log giving the ac-
count of the battle as there recorded,
but afterwards an addenda had been
made by the navigator He explained
that the error had been caused by the
fact that during the action he could
not see on account of the smoke. He
said that he had entered In the log
that the ship had turned with star
board helm. but found later that il
was changed to port. Reading from
the log, Doyle said the Brooklyn en-.
gagged the Colon, Viscaya and Teresa
as they came out of the harbor He
said II had looked very much to him
before the Brooklyns turn as If they
were about to have a general mix-up
with the Spanish ships.
Did Not Know Of Signals.
Doyle said that while at Key West.
which port the Brooklyn had left at the
head Of the flying squadron on May 10,
ANaos MA MNN ANtAA u AA0ANAAh VI AAAh hNsAAA~
fish feet nor had he then been informed
Of a secret code OF signals arranged by
Captain McCalla for communicating
with the Cuban insurgents.
Relating the particulars Of the block
ade OF the Cienfuegos by the flying
squadron from the 21st to the oath OF
May Lieutenant Doyle said he recalled
the arrival OF the Iowa and and the
Dupont of Cienfuegos on May %, Of
the Hawk on the 23d and the Marble
head on the gath. he said that he had
observed three lights which looked like
bonfres on the shore each night that
the squadron lay on Cienfuegos. but
that neither he nor anyone else on
board, so far as he knew, understood
their purpose. He also told Of a recog-
nizance Of the harbor at Cienfuegos on
the evening Of the 22d OF May; Of the
conversation with the officers of the
British ship Adula. and Of the arrival
of the Marblehead and the departure of
the entire squadron for Santiago after
the last named vessel had made COM
munication with the Cubans ashore.
Then. he said, on the night of tho
oath ships formed in squadron and
started eastward the speed at first be-
ing nine knots an hour. but afterwards
being reduced to accommodate the small
vessels, the ixen and the Eagle. When
they made their start there was quite
surf. a 'long swell OF the sea. and
on the 25th the weather was still worse,
making it very difficulty for the yachts
TO keep up
Lieutenant Doyle placed the distance
OF the American fleet of Santiago from
the mouth Of the harbOr at from three
to four miles and said there were
picket bo-5 ca the Inside CT the line
Speaking Of the t1nhasdmcnt OF the
Colon Ca tle .ie, on lay. be ld Mr.
Rayner designating It as ieeonnais-
ance. Lieutenant Doyle said that III
effect had been TO develop the fact
that the spaniards had new guns il
their land batteries.
Here Mr. Rayner asked when wal
the circular form Of blockade coin
menced?"
While no mention was made Of thu
name OF Admiral Sampson this ques
tion was evidently regarded as an at
tempt TO bring his blockade into tn
case for the purpose Of comparison. ant
Captain Lemly was prompt in notin
a sharp and vigorous objection.
Without waiting for any argumen
on the point the court Immediately an
nounced a brief recess. The member
retired for a minute or two, and whe
they returned. Admiral Dewey said
"The court decides that all question
relating to the blockade on Santiae
must be confined to the time prior
the arrival Of the commander-in-chief
At the beginning Of the court yeste
day morning Admiral Evans took Il
stand 10 again deny the report that I
had boastcd Of his ship, the Iowa,
stroying nearly all Of the Spanish flee
He asked 70 be allowed 10 read lett
from Captain Cook, who was prese
most Of the time he was on the Brool