The age-herald., 1899-06-21
THEY'RE AGAIN
 AFTER SCHLEY Trying to Prove That He Was
 PTOfaNe Enough to SAY HD--N THE TEXAS" Navigation Bureau Energetic in
 Its Efforts
 TO SUBSTANTIATE THE REMARK Another Statement Made Public At- tributins the Words to Schley. LITTLE CONFUSED IN FACTS
Another Statement Made Public At-
 tributing the Words to Schley.
LITTLE CONFUSED IN FACTS
Lieutenant Commander Heilner Contra diets Hodgson in Important Details Schley Says Meningitis Dis
 pute Between Junior Officers

Washington, June 2O.-(Special.)-Th bureau of navigation, finding its bulletin of last night in regard to the schley-Hodg- son controversy something of boomerang. and more in favor of Schley than they expected, early this morning issued cor rection. in which it makes Lieutenant Commander Hodgson say that Schley did mention the Texas in the dispute coloquy. 1his however, had hardly been put upon the bulletin board when the bureau made public a second statement this time from Lieutenant Commander Heilner, in which he joins issue with Hodgson and declares distinctly that Schley had used the naugh- ty words in reference to the Texas, and contradicting Hodgson's statement before Chadwick in other ways.
 This later statement is also signed by Chadwick, and every one Is wondering what the navy department means by ina putting the veracity of a star witness in this matter The statement of MT. Heilner shows that he is responsible for the orgi- nal publication of the colloquy and that he got 1t secondhand, at any rate.
 The only explanation offered or given in regard to the remarkable conduct of the
 
 its principal witness as unreliable is to force Schley into calling for a court n- quiry and placing himself with the mercy of icourt composed of his enemies.
 Heilner's Statement
 Following the statement of Lieutenant- Commander Hodgson respecting the events occurring on the bridge of the Brooklyn on July 8 is the report from Captain Chad wick, of his examination of Lieutenant Commander, referred to above:
 'U. S. s. New Tory. Boston, Mass, June 19 1S99.:
 ''Sir-In obedience to the orders of the secretary of the navy I have the honor to make the following report of an examina- ticn of Lieutenant Commander Heilner with respect to his knowledge of a conver- sation reported to have occurred between Rear Admiral Schley and Lieutenant-C mander Hodgson regarding the action of July 8, 1S9S
 "Lieutenant-C Commander Heilner states as follows:
 "At one of the early sessions of the boards of ships position during the action of July 3, I strongly expressed my doubt as to the Brooklyn's position before mak- ing the loop as laid down by MT. Hodgson and several other nayigators. Mr. Comfy and MT. Schuetz know sided with me.
 ''Mr Hodgson, on this particular occa- sion, walked up and down the port side of the cabin of the Brooklyn, where the board was sitting. It is my impression. MT. Hodg- son claimed the Brooklyn was HOO yards from the leading Spanish ship when the turn was made. The board, I think, put it later at 1,40O yards. MT Hodgson told
 foI+ arta in, closer than 400 yards, and that their stadimetre gave 800 yards. He said.
 '' We were so close that Schley gave the order Hard a-port." I said to him, You mean starboard, do you not?' the com modore said: "No, mean port; we are close enough to them now
 MT. Hodgson then said he called atten- tion to the position of the Texas, and told the commodore he though there was danger of running her down. The commodore re- piled: Damn the Texas. Let her look out for herself The conversation was re- peated to me on several occasions
 Everything I say now was contained in MT Hodgsons statement. The words may have been a little different. He may have said: Don't you mean starboard, com modore? instead of the first phraseology. He certainly said, We are near enough to them now and also Damn the Texas; let her look out for herself.
 What Caused the Dispute
 'He repeated this conversation to me at least three times during the sessions of the board, because every time discussion arose I recurred to the position given by him. which did not think correct.
 "I placed no credence on any observatory stadimetre or sextant during fire. My ex- perience was that during urgent action I couldn't get single observation by the stadimetre on which could place any con fidence. though I was using two stadime- tres and had man in the coming tower with cleaning material, whose only duty was to try to keep the glasses clean. With the utmost care this could not be done. tried keeping the stadimetre under my coat but 1t was of no use. mention this as a reason for the doubts which brought up the discussion"
 The report as published was practically the cony yarsation as repeated to me.
 Lieutenant Commander Heilner appends tion of the fore