Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-06-24
WHAT SCHLEY SAID.
Episode of July 3 on the
Brooklyn Recalled.
CAPTAIN CHADWICK MAKES REPORT.
The Conversation, says Hodgson,
Took Pisce--rse Denial Wa. That
OF the Words "a Published.
Substance Was Correct.


WASHINGTON, June 2o.-The oc-
surrences on the bridge OF the BROOKLYN
during the battle OF July having been
The subject OF a controversy in the news
papers, the navy department recently ur-
certook an investigation OF the various al
legations. Lieutenant Commander HodR-
son and Lieutenant Commander Heilner.
who have figured in the controversy.
were both called on FOR explanations OF
the utterances attributed 10 them. aud
the former was directed 20 report FOR ex-
animation on this point to Captain Chad
wick at Boston. The department has
now given out for publication Captain
Chadwick's report on the matter. II Is
not yet determined whether or not the
answer OF Lieutenant Commander He'll
ner will be- made public at this time.
Captain Chadwick's report is as follows.
I. :. :. New York
Boston. Mass. June Il. 1899
Sir-ln obedience 20 your order OF the
18th inst. l have 20 report the following
rs the statement by Lieutenant COM
mandcr Hodcson Of the conversation be-
tween Rear Admiral Schlcy and himself
during the action OF July 3. IS.S
He states as follows:
As we were approaching the Spanish
ships ! heard Admiral Schley say port or
starbOard several times 10 Captain Cook
In the coming tower. the admiral being
on the platform surrounding the coming
tower. ! had been on the bridge above
and was just coming down To- report the
positions OF the ships when I heard the
admiral say. Hard aport' The Maria
iercsa was then hauling abart our port
beam. The Brooklyn was heading about
northeast. ] told the admiral. or at least
suggested to him. tha; the Texas was
very close on our starboard side and
that turning 10 starboard would bring us
too close 20 her don't know that
used the word collision I did not say
You mean starbOard.' intended him
TO understand there was danger Of run
ming into the Texas lie said, An right.
or words 10 that Effect cannot repeat
verbatim. When I knew he was going
20 turn TO starboard. suggested backing
the starboard engine in order 10 make a
smaller circle and give the Texas a wider
berth. but he decided against that as de-
creosing The snxed OF the turn. He did
not say. that L know o. We are near
enough a. them fthe SpaniarsiSl already.
The only thing / gathered from what he
said was that IL We turned 90 port we
should get 50 close that we should expose
ourselves 20 torpedo attack. l supposed
he meant torpedo boats and replied TO
him that had not seen them"
Lieutcnani Commander Hodgson states
that he did not intend 10 convey m his
note OF denial sent az the request OF Ad-
miral Schlcy and published in the Wash
ington Post the idea that no such colo
guy took place.
lie states regarding this a follows.
Admiral Schley wrote nae. inciu>ing an
editorial from "A New York paper Of June
16. asking me L. write "A denial OF what
he phra~cd an Oft repeated calumny.'
He said hc had NO recollection OF any
such conversation. wrote a lengthy
letter OF explanation. giving my recollec-
tion of the conversation aS nearly a pos
sihlc. Admiral Schley wrote me. saying:
There il much in your letter which
should not like 80 use. as il would pro-
woke assault upon You. which l would
not like 10 happen. What l want 10
show is that the dialogue did not occur
l then wrote a denial OF the colloQuy. Ger
tainly not intending 10 say that no such
cOllOQuy occurred. but that IL did not occur
aS printed. | at the same time sent with
this second explanatory letter. explain
ing 10 Admiral Schley that the letter Of
denial was n denial OF the dialogue as il
appeared in print and that had told the
correspondent OF the paper that the sub
stance or the conversation was correct.
In writing the letter wished 10 refute
the fact OF any controversy existing at a
critical stage OF the battle. 1.-THE letter
was denial OF the words as they stood
in the published article-a denial OF their
literal correctness and not a denial OF the
substantial correctness OF the state
ment."
A copy OF the letter has not been re-
tanned by him. He had a rough draft,
which has been mislaid.
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson ap-
pends AS signature as a voucher for the
accuracy with which the foregoing is
given. Very respectfully.
Il. T.. CHADWICK,
Captain, L. :. ~.