The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-10-10
Sehley's Chief Counsel Asks That
the Rear Admiral Be Sum-
mOned as a Witness.
DISPUTE OVER "DEAR SCHLEY" LETTER
Rayner Expressed the Opinion That
the Word Santiago Had Been In.
advertently Used by sampson.
Lieut.. G. w. Dyson, Commander r.
p. Rodgers and Commander A. c.
HOdgson Gave Testimony In
the Court of Inquiry.

dutlOn OF the nrSt Witness IN Adm.
Schley's behalf This was Lieut.. Jas.
j. Doyle, who was watch officer on
board the flagship Brooklyn during
the war with Spain. The fact that
Lieut.. 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
II has been the purpose of Adm.
Schley to summon him, advantage
was taken of his presence on the stand
TO question him as an original wit
ness for "the applicant" lie was
under examination by Mr.. Rayner in
the interest of the admiral when the
court adjourned for the day.
Before undergoing examination at
Mr.. Rayper's hands, Lieut.. Doyle, at
Capt. Lernly'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 al.
teration of that entry because he SUBJ
sequently discovered that his first
entry had been erroneous.
Mr.. Rayner asked him if it were not
not due to an error on the part of the
witness and to no desire upon the
part of anybody to falsify the fact.
Absolutely" was the response.
And the error" continued Mr.. Ray
ner, occurred, as / understood you
20 say. in This way: That during the
action you could not see on account
OF the smoke and thought the ship
did turn with starbcard helm and
you entered it so in the log"
Yes was the reply. "We lost
track of the enemy in the first in
stance with the port battery by our
own bow shutting the enemy out
and showing that at that time we
must have had our helm little star
board or that the enemy was going
with starboard helm"
And then when you learned you
had been mistaken you made the
change"
81 changed the entry. and I think
If you had the rough copy here you
would find it changed in my own
handwriting"
Adm. Evans, Capt. Sigsbee and Cor
respondent Dienaide were all recalled
for the purpose of correcting their
testimony as given Tuesday, and all
made additional statements.
Washington, Oct. AFTER Lieut..
Doyle, formerly of Commodore
Schley's flagship, the Brooklyn, had
completed his testimony before the
Schley court OF inquiry Thursday,
Capt. William {. Dawson, OF the ma
rine corps, was called, and was fol-
lowed by Lieut.. Charles w. Dyson,
of the bureau of steam engineering
OF the navy department.
Capt. Dawson was signal officer on
board the battleship Indiana during
the naval engagement Oft Santiago,
and he gave an account from recol-
lection of the behavior of the various
ships of the American feet during
that battle. He said the Brooklyn
had gone about 2,OOO yards to the
southward before joining in the pur-
suit of Ceryera's ships.
Capt. Sigsbee resumed the stand in
the morning to correct his testimony
OF Wednesday. lie said he found a
letter Wednesday night written May
20, in which he said he had no posi-
tive knowledge of the whereabouts OF
the Spaniards.
Lieut.. Doyle then resumed the
bardment of the Spanish forts. He
was then asked:
How often did you see Commo-
dore Schley under fire?"
During the bombardments and at
the battle on July g."
What was his conduct"
II didn't have the opportunity to
observe his conduct during the bat
tie, but | did see him before and
after the battle. He was as self.
possessed as any one could be under
those circumstances"
Did YOU observe smoke over the
harbor July ~"
yes"
~ propose to show the court that
Commodore Schley saw the smoke
In the harbor July 2. He believed il
20 indicate that the feet was com
ing out. He did his duty and notified
the squadron" explained Rayner.
Both Lemly and Hanna opposed
the statement, bitterly contending
that the question tended to open W
an inquiry on the conduct of other
officers connected with the Santiago
campaign. They meant, of course
Sampson, and that Rayner would
Try to show that Sampson left the
blockade on the morning of July 3
despite this smoke warning that Ger
vera was probably coming out.
''What we want is the whole truth,
declared Capt. Parker, of Schley's
counsel, emphatically.
"l'he gentlemen on the other side
say they, too, want the whole truth
and we are happy to agree with
them. We are going to open the door
wide and let every body who tool
part in the campaign come under the
scope Of this investigation"
Washington, Oct. 5.--In the Schley
naval court Of inquiry Mr.. Rayner
chief OF counsel for Adm. Schley, ask
ed Judge Advocste Lsmly to summon
Adm. Sampson - witness In the
case. The requsss grew out of diff
ference in the construction of q sen
tence In Adm. sampson's letter to
Commodore Sohlsy, written from Key
West, May 20, while Commodore
schley, with the flying squadron, lay
on Cieufuegos. This is known a. the
"Dear Schley" letter, and in II, al
printed In the naval department doc
uinents supplied TO the senate. the
admiral ssid. after expressing hi