The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-19
THE SCHLEY CONTROVERSY.
4 QUESTION or DERACITY BETWEEN
HODGSON AND HEILSER

The Navy Department Begins an Inyestiga-
ton to Ascertain who Is Guilty of False
hood-A Full Inquiry Into schley's Com
duct in the SANTIAGO Battle May Result.
WAsHINGToN. June 1t was learned to-
day from an official source that while the Navy
Department has prepared It has not yet trans
mitted the communications to Lieutenant
Commander Hodgson and Lieutenant Com
mandcr Hcilner concerning the question Of
veracty that has arisen between them over
Heiners assertion. on Hodgson's authority.
that Admiral Schley did make use OF the Ian
guaRe attributed to him in connection with
his order for the peculiar loop which the Brook
Ign executed In the naval engagement off San
tiago on July g. 1898. The communications
OF tho department will probably be mailed to
HOdgson and Hener tomorrow.
The same official Is also authority for the
statement that 1t is a mistake to suppose that
the department has addressed similar COM
munications to Lieutenant Command Rich
ard Wainwright and the other mem bers of the
Board Of Navigators who. with Hodgson. rep
rescnting tho Brooklyn. and Hoilner, repre-
sentng the Texas, prepared the chart showing
tho relative positions OF the American and
Spanish warships at certain specified periods
in the Santiago naval battle. The ac-
Lieutenant-Co Commander Heilners statement
in his letter to THE Sun. that "he
HodgsonI repeated to me the converse
ton alluded to. in substance. in connection
with the investigation Of the Wainwright
Board OF Navigators. using it to confirm the
position claimed by him for tho Brooklyn"
Mr.. Heilner. 1t will be noticed. does not say
that Mr.. Hodgson repeated the Schey- Hodg-
son colloquy to the other members OF the Board
OF Navgators. and the department will there
fore contlne its inquiries at this time to the
assertions OF the two officers concerned
II 10 regarded AS certain in naval circles that
court OF inquiry will result from the lnyesti-
gation Of the department to determine whether
Mr.. Hodgson or Mr.. Hsilner has been guilty Of
fasehood. In that event the other members
OF the Wainwright Board will be called to tell
whether they heard Mr.. Hodgson give tho YER
sion OF his collOquy with Admiral Schey which
Mr.. Hcilner asserts was given to him. An i'm
portant witness. Of course. will DO Rear Ad-
miral Philip. commandant OF the New York
Navy Yard. on account Of the statement made
in THE Sun to-day that Hodgson has said to
the editor OF THE Sun, in the presence OF the
commandant OF the New York Navy Yard. that
the substance OF THE SUNS report was true"
The opinion is held by naval officers with
whom THE Sun reporter has talked. all OF
whom are in close touch with the department.
that as a result Of the investigation Of the
Heiner- HodGson matter full inquiry into
the conduct Of the flying squadron off tho
south coast OF Cuba and into the manruvre of
the Brooklyn IN the battle OF Santiago will be
held The court appointed to investigate the
question OF veracity between Mr. Hodgson and
Mr. Heilner must necessarily ascertain all the
facts in regard to the loop made by the Brook
lyn. and naval officers do not see how Admiral
Schey can. in these circumstances. fail to de-
mand an Investigation Of the charges which
have been made against his professional stand
ing and judgment in the letter sent by Secrc-
tary Long to the Senate explaining why Samp-
son was recommended for promotion over
Schey