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.
IT is hardly necessary 10 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
IoQuy 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 a moment endangered the
Texas which was very close. A few
days aga, however Admiral Schley re-
ceived a letter from Hodgson as follows:
''U. S. S. Brooklyn,
Navy Yard. New York
june II, 1883.
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 5, 1898.
never occurred. Very respectfully,
"A. c. HODGSON.
Lieut. COmdr, L. S. n"
There was an additional line, in these
words: Il return herewith the newspape-
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, ccm-
manding SIMPSONS flagship, the New
York. WAS instructed from Washington
TO summon Lieut.. Commander Hodgson
before him and opened up an inquisition.
ChadWicks report of the results Of the
ceremony Will be found elsewhere in this
issue OF The Post, and we commend II
TO the careful perusai of all who like 10
see a mean scandal dissected and dizin-
fected. There is just one paragraph in
Chadwick's report which strikes us as
being especially significant Here 1t Is:
Lieut.. Commander Ho1gson states
that ne did not intend 20 convey in his
note Of denial. sent at the request of
Admiral Schley. and published in The
Washington Post, the idea that no
such coloquy took place"
Indeed, Then why has Hodgson. even
under Chadwicks manipulation. shown
that the colloouy insisted upon By the
sun did not occur At all? Why does Tie
whole tenor Of Chadwicts report 70 10
show that Hoasson had no colloquy What
ever with Schley. and that he simply
overheard and interfered in 2 dialogue
between Schley and Capt. Cook Was taiz
discordant and inharmonious utterance
extortcd by the ingenious catechisn Of
Chadwick in order to save something
from the wreck. or Is Hodgson simply a
plain. everyday fool?
These details, however, DO not interest
Us. IL Is unmisJaksbly clear that Hodg-
son has oontradicted himself Writing 10
Admiral Schley, an autograph letter. he
explicitly declares that the alleged col
loquy never occurred" Talking TO
CAPT. Chadwiek-or so The Captain says
he states that he did not intend TO convey
the idea that the colloquy did not take
place. Here is the controversy in a nut
shell: Hodgson Is the Suu's-and. there
fore. the depHrtment's-star witness.
Upon his testimony the Sun has founded
the whole structure OF It's abuse and Will
ncation of Schley. Nov this witness
writes TO SehIey. emphatleaIly withdraw
ing his authority for the suns injurious
accusations. and. within three days. he is