The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-23

omissions might occur the department
appointed three officers for the purpose
of compiling the same. and associated
with them Admiral Sch1ey's own ilag
officer to attest the accuracy of the re-
ports.
Second. When the newspaper con-
troversy arose. in which the depart
ment had no share. as to "a converse
tlOn which was sad 10 have taken
place during the battle OF Santiago be-
tween Commodore Schley ana his nav
igatlng officer, Lieut.. Hodgson. ono
newspaper published this CONVERSE
tiOn several times, stating that Lieut..
HOdgson had dlvulged H. Subsequent
ly another paper published letter
from Lieut.. HOdgsOn To Admiral
SChley declaring that such a conyer-
satiOn had not taken place Then the
first paper. ostensibly on the testimony
OF another officer, stated that Lieut.
Hodgson had, nevertheless. declared
that such conversation had taken
place. Under the circumstances. IL
looked as though one OF the two officers
had publicly made "a false statement
I'm matter concerning the navy. AS
this, unless ckared up, might work
prejudice & the service and involve Il
IN scandal, II Became necessary. as
customary in such cases 90 call for an
explanation. Both officers were there
fore asked 0y the department To fur
niSh such an explanation. The result
vas hat Lieut. IodgsOn declared that
mis- denial of me conversation was not
90 be construed that the conversation
had NOT taken place ~ the terms re-
ported, but that the substance OF the
same had been correctly stated. II was
further established that the lieuten-
ant outside OF his communication TO
Schley, in hich he denied the conver-
sation published, bad sent another let
ter, In which he declared that the con
versatiOn with the former had been
M 'srepresented by the newspaper only
rs 10 It's terms. but not ss To it's sub
stance Lieut. Hodgson Mad previous
ly sent another letter OF similar pur-
port 10 Admiral schley.
USUAL CoURsE FOLLOWED.
1T Is evident that tho course OF ac-
tion OF the department in this matter is
the usual course resoiited To by the de-
partment in order TO give an officer an
opportunity TO explain what. IL not eX-
plaintd would lay him open To the
charge of improper talk or conduct.
The question may be raised why the
department did not call upon Admiral
Schley To explain Why he had published
the letter which must have given the
impression that such "A conversation
had never taken place and not the ac-
companying letter and the former let
ter, both of which showed that the con-
Versation had taken place. N not in the
terms stated, yet I'm substance; and why
he did not explain the circumstances
thlt those two letters. which contained
the real facts, were held back, while
the other letter. which was calculated
60 give different impression, was pub
Hshc1. The consideration which the de-
partment showed ia not calliDb upon
the admiral for am explanation of these
matters can certainly not be regarded
as persecution.
"The foregoing is all that the depart
ment has done in this matter. except
that ii has assigned 10 Admiral Schley
such work "A would properly fall 10 an
officer OF his or superior rank i'm any
ordinary sea service. He has also been
given every opportunity TO appear be-
fore the public.
NO OPINION EXPRESSED.
mo doubt the battle OF Santiago has
been much discussed OUTSIDE OF the de-
paI-sment. but the department itself has.
so far never expressed an opinion as 10
the .raneuvers of our ships in that bat
tie. Nothing, therefore. can be further
from the truth than the statement that
Schley has been prosecuted. Whatever
has been done was done with our con-
sent. and TO allay rather than 10 further
manifested I'm a public discussion of
personal merits. Admiral Schley has no
ground for complaint nor has he ever
made a complaint. Should he do So the
department. is ready to make any in
vestigation thait he may desire. or sub
nit it's report To any competent jury.
1t is not conc eiyablc that any naval
officer possessing "a sense of honor
should for a moment suffer criticism to
say nothing Of persecution. on the part
OF any authority over him. without inn
mediateiy calling for mn investigation.
Admira Schley has had many years ex-
perience in the naval profession and has
mo. with every consideration from this
department. Therefore the fact that
he has accepted our course of action
without any murmur is a clear proof
that he is entirely satisfied with II, or
mt least. that he deems IL just and con
siderate and has no cause for COM
paint. IL may be that the navy de-
partmenr has made some mistake I'm
this matter. but there can certainly be
no question of any persecution. Very
respectfully, JOHN ID. LONG"