Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-15
THE sCHLEY INQUIRY.

q
Washington, Oct. 11.-Judge Advo-
cate Lemly will be unable to conclude
the presentation of the governments
side in the Schley court of inquiry this
week as was expected. The case will
probably consume the greater portion
of next week. Rayner estimates the
court will not be able to terminate it's
labors before the middle of November
Among the witnesses called for the
purpose of correcting previous testi.
mony was Admiral Taylor of the Indi-
ana. He was questioned as to where
he had received the information that
the Spaniards We're coming out of San
tiago before their appearance on the
morning of July 8, and whether he had
not gotten the message from the Vixen
with reference to them coming out of
the harbor, or anybody on the Indiana
had reported to him they had observed
smoke. Taylor replied in the negative
to all.
II Shore Batteries Weak.
Lieutenant Althouse, formerly divis-
ion officer of the battleship Massa-
chusetts, was the next witness. On the
day of the bombardment of the Colon
he was in charge of the eight-inch tur-
ret of the Massachusetts. He said
the ship was no more than three min
utes in passing the entrance of the
harbor the first time firing only two
shots. Instructions were for a range
of 1000 yards. The shots fell short
and the range was increased on the re-
turn trip to 10000. The strength of
| ho4
the reconnaissance and to his mind
was very weak.
SchIey's Dispatch.
Lemly introduced as evidence re-
ports made by Schley to the secretary
OF the navy of the engagement of May
81. In one of these Schley said "The
reconnaissance was intended principal
ly to injure or destroy the Colon. The
fire was returned without delay by the
heavy batteries to the east and west
OF the entrance by large calibre, long
range guns. The reconnaissance de-
veloping satisfactorily the presence of
the Spanish squadron lying behind the
island near the inner fort, as they fir
ed over the hill at random quite sat
isfied me the Spanish fleet was there"
SWSy , SepHSW eSIIIlcS.
Lieutenant P. G. Dewey, a nephew
of Admiral Dewey, the watch
officer of the Massachusetts.
placed the distance of the blockading
line under Schley at five to eight
miles out from the harbor day and
night and said there was no particular
information about the vessels. He
did not believe the enemy's vessels
could have been seen coming out of
the harbor owing to the darkness and
the distance There were no orders.
to his knowledge, given for attacking
the enemy if seen coming out of the
harbor.
Say SchIey Went to Fast.
Dewey detailed the conversation he
had with Schley regarding the firing
on the Colon and said the Commodore
told him he was going to have try
at the Colon, and when asked what
speed the vessels make Schley re-
Piled: about ten knots" The wit
ness thought this too fast, giving but
little chance at the Colon. At $500
yards range the shot fell short and
his orders We're to direct the fire on
the Colon and not on the batteries.
Could Not Have Seen Them.
i Lieutenant Francis Boughter, divis.
ion officer of the Marblehead, said
the Marblehead and the ViXon were
on picket duty between the shore line
and the line of blockade, about three
miles from the shore. He could not
see the squadron after nightfall
In reply to a question by Dewey if
the Marblehead could have seen the
enemy coming out, the witness SAID
"if the enemy kept close to shore and
we were three miles off we couldn't
have seen them provided they kept
reasonably dark and quiet. Boughtel
couldn't tell how far the Marblehead
was from the Vixen or whether the
Vixen could have seen the enemy es
Gaping.
Washington, Oct. 1.-THE Schley
: court of inquiry held but one session
today, adjourning at o'clock unit
Monday. Captain Lemley said he ex
, pected to conclude the presentation
: Of the governments side of the case
by Monday
Chadwick Continues Testimony
/ After recalling yesterdays witness
, es for the purpose of correcting theil
testimony, Captain Chadwick, Samp
sons chief Of staff during the war
continued his testimony, which wa!
: begun yesterday. In reply to ques
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So -