The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20
The Sun and Its Witness.

Yesterday afternoon the Navy Depart
ment gave out for publication a fresh
chapter in the history Of the conspiracy
against its pet victim. Admiral Schley.
1t is hardly necessary to explain that the
New York Sun, in its capacity as the
organ of this conspiracy, has been re-
iterating for weeks past an alleged col
lcquy between Admiral Schley and Lieut..
Hodgson, navigating officer of the Brook
lyn, its acknowledged purpose being to
make il appear that Schley made his
now famous loop through fear Of the
Spaniards, and despite the fact that such
turn at such moment endangered the
Texas which was very close. A few
days ago. however. Admiral Schley re-
ceived a letter from H0dgsOn as follows:
'U. S. s. Brooklyn.
Navy Yard. New York
June II, 1899.
Dear Admiral Schley:
THE colloquy published in the New
York Sun and alleged to have taken
place between you and me on the day
of the battle off Santiago, July 3. 1895.
never occurred. Very respectfully
"a. c. HODGSON.
Lieut. COmdr, L. 5. n"
There was an additional line, in these
words: Il return herewith the newspaper
clipping containing the collOquy referred
to-" That was all. The denial was eX-
plicit. circumstantial complete.
Naturally. this publication caused acute
Gismay in the Department Mutual Ad-
miration Society, and naturally the ener-
gies OF that noble band were at once
concentrated upon the discovery and en-
ploymert of some method of escape from
the dilemma
To this end Capt. F. z. Chadwick, com
manding SIMPSONS flagship, the New
York, was instructed from Washington
TO summon Lieut. Commander Hodgson
before him and opened up an inquisition.
Chadwick's report of the results Of the
ceremony Will be found elsewhere in this
issue of The Post, and we commend il
TO the careful perusai OF all who like 10
see a mean scandal dissected and disin-
fected. There is just one paragraph in
Chadwiek's report which strikes Us as
being especially Significant Here it Is:
Lieut.. Commander Hodgson states
that ne did not intend 70 convey in his
note of denial sent at the request of
Admiral Schley, and published in The
Washington Post. the idea that no
such collOquy took place"
Indeed! Then why has Hodgson. even
under Chadwicks manipulation, shown
that the colloquy insisted uDon by The
Sun did not occur at all? Why does Ike
whole tenor of Chadwick's report 20 10
show that Hodgson had no eolloauy Whit
ever with Sehley, and that he simply
overheard and interfered in a dialogue
between Schley and Capt Cook? Was this
dlsc0rdsnt and inharmonious utterance
extorted by the ingenious catechisn Of
Chadwick in order 10 save something
from the wreck, or Is Hodgson simply a
plain. everyday fool?
These details however, do not interest
US. II is Enthusiastically clear that Hodg-
son has contradicted himself. Writing 10
Admiral Schley. an autograph letter. he
explicitly declares that the alleged col
loquy never occurred" Taking 10
Capt Chadwiek-or so the Captain says
he states that re did noy intend 10 convey
the idea that the colloquy did not take
place. Here is the controversy in nut
shell: Hodgson is the SuH's-and. there
fore. the department witness.
Upon his testimony the sun has founded
the whole structure OF I;s abuse and vill-
ncarion OF Schley. Now this witness
writes 10 Sohley. emphatically withdraw
ing his authority for the Suns injurious
accusations. and. within three days. be Is