The San Francisco call., 1899-06-21
4 \ = 4 \ y y

CALL HEADQUARTERS. WELLING-
TON HOTEL. WASHINGTON. June 20
Following the statement of Lieutenant
Commander Hodgson regarding the events
that occurred on the bridge of the Brook
lyn July 8, the Nevy Department to-day
made public the following report from
Captain Chadwick Of his examination OF
Lieutenant Commander Heilner:
|. 5 s New York, Boston Mass, June 19
1899.
Sir: In obedience to the orders OF the Secre-
tary OF the Navy, I have the honor to make
the following report Of examination Of
Lieutenant Commander Heilner with respect
to his knowledge OF a conversation reported TO
have occurred between Rear Admiral SChley
and Lieutenant Commander Hodgson regarding
the action of July 3. 1888. Lieutenant Com
mander Heilner states as follows:
AT one Of the early sessions Of the board
on ship position during the action of July 8.
[ strongly expressed my doubt TO the Brook
lyn's position before making the trip laid
down by Lieutenant Hodgson. Several other
navigators. Mr.. Conley and Mr. Scwetz, I know
sided with me. Mr.. Hodgson and l. on this
particular occasion, walked up and down the
port side OF the cabin OF the Brooklyn. in which
he board was sitting. 1t is my impression that
Mr.. Hodgson claimed that the BROOKLYN was
100 yards from the leading Spanish ship when
the turn was made. The board. I think, put
It later at 400 yards. Mr.. Hodgson told me
that he felt certain they were closer than 1i0C
yards, and that their stadmeter gave 500 yards
He said We were SO close that SChey gave
Y
mean starboard, do you?' The commodore said:
NO. l mean port. we are close enough to them
now" Mr. Hodgson said he then called atten-
tion to the position of the Texas, and told the
commodore he thought there was danger OF
running her down. The commodore replied
"D-n the Texas let her look out for herself. "
This conversation was repeated 10 me on sew
eral occasions.
Everything I say now was contained in Mr.,
HOdgson's statement. The words may have
been a little different. He may have said
Don't you mean starboard commodore?" in
stead Of the first phraseology. He certainly
said, We are near enough TO them now and
also 'D-n the Texas; let her Look out + # her
self" He repeated this conversation to me at
least three times during the sessions OF the
board, because every time discussion arose
| REQUIRED 70 the position given by him, which
I did not think correct. I placed no depend
ence on any observation by stadmeter or sex
tant during gun fire. Ny experience was that
servation BY the standimeter which l could
place any confidence, though l using two
standimeters and had a man on 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 stadimeter under my coat,
but II was no use. I mention this a reason
for the doubts which brought up the discus
sion. The report as published was practically
the conversation as repeated to me.
Lieutenant Heilner appends his signature as
an attest to the accuracy Of the report here
with given. Very respectfully,
+. F. CHADWICK, Captain l. 5. n
l. s. & N HElLNEF' Lieutenant Commander T.
To the commander in chief
BALTIMORE, June 20-Rear Admiral
Schley. who is visiting General Felix An
gus at the home of the latter near this
city. declined to-day to comment upon CT
discuss in any manner the statements of
Lieutenant Commander HodgsOn or Lieu
tenant Commander Heilner. General An
gus said: Admiral Schley has nothing
to say. This is merely a dispute between
Junior officers. History tells the rest"