The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20
Declares Officially that Schley
Said Hard ApOrt.
A DENIAL NOT MEANT TO DENY
He Gathered from Sohley's Orders that
the Latter Feared Exposure to Torpedo
Attack. Though Hodgson saw None and
So Informed His Chief-The Lieutensnt's
Denial of Alleged Coiloquy Was Only
Intended to Deny Dialogue as Published.

The occurrence on the bridge OF the
Brooklyn during the battle of July 3, hav-
ing been the subject of a controversy
iE the newspapers. the Navy Depart
ment recently undertook an investigation
of the various allegations Lieut. Com
nander HOdgson and Lieut. Comma nder
Heilncr. who have figured in the cOntrO-
vCrsy, were both called on for eXpldna-
tiOnS of the utteTances attributed 10
them. and the former was directed to
report for examination on this point TO
Capt. Chadwick, at Boston. The depart
ment has now given out for publication
Capt. Chadwick's report on the matter
It is not yet determined whether or not
the answer of Lieut.. Commander HeiIner
will be made public at this time. Capt.
Chadwick's report is as follows:
II. s. S. New York
Boston. Mass, June Il. 1899
''Sir. In obedience to your order of the
18th instant | have to report the following
as the statement by Lieut.. Commander
HOdgsOn Of the conversation between
Rear Admiral Schey and himself during
the action of July >, 1898.
He stetes rs follows:
Saw No Torpedo-bnats.
As were approaching the Spanish ship. l
heard Admiral Schley say port starboard sew
eral times to Capt. Cook in the coming tower
the Admiral being on the platform surrounding the
coming tower | had been the bridge above
and just coming down to report the position
of the ships when / heard the Admiral say: Hard
apOrt''
The Maria Teresa was then hauling abaft orr
port beam. The Brooklyn vas heading about north
L
| him that the Texas very close stsrbOlrl
hand and that turning to starboard would bring Us
| too close to her. don't know that used the word
collision
| l did not say: You mean starboard' in
| tended him TO Understand there danger OF run
niEg into the Texas. He said: All right words
| 10 that effect. | canEOt repeat verbatim. When /
knew he going TO turn to star5oard. | suggest
ed backing the stafboard engine. n order 10 make
smaller circle and give the Texas wider berth,
but he decided against that as decreasing the speed
! of the turn. He did rot say. that | know Of, I've
are enough to them tthe SpsnisrdsI already 80
| The only tFing | gathered from what he said was
| that ii We turned TO port shOuid get close
that should expose ourselves to torpedo attack.
supposed h. meant tOrpedO-bOsts and replied TO
| him that | rad rot seen them.
Lieut. Commander Hodgson states
that he did not intend to convey in his
Z llDtt vi Ltilldir St-ll dN Nh' lNHt''t Va ~
miral Schley and published in The Wash
loquy took place.
Why He Wrote the ketter.
| He states regarding this. as follows:
AdmirlI Sshley wrote me. inclosing an editorial
| from a New York paper tof June u, asking me 10
write denial Of he phrssed IAN oft-rePeatei
eqlunny. He said he had recollection Of any
| Iasf
/ PLANTATION. giving my recollection Of the e0nyersd-
| tion nearly possible.
| Admiral Scney wrote saying: There is much
In your letter which | should rot Ike 10 IL
would provCke assault upon you. which | would not
! Ike 70 happen. What | want 70 EhOW is thai the
| dialogue did not occur | then wrote denial Of
| the eoloquy, certainly not intending 10 say that
no such co0quy occurred but that it did not occur
| as printed l. at the same time. sent with this a
second explanatory letter. explaining 20 Admiral
| Schley that the letter of denial denial Of
| the dialogue as it appeared In print. and that
| had told the correspondent Of the PAPER that Tie
substance Of the conversation correct. In writ
/ ing the letter / wished refute the fact o. any
controversy existing at critical stage Of the bat
! tie Il one letter. WAS denial Of the words a.
| they STOOD IN the published article; a denial II
| their literal correctness. and not 4 denial Of the
| substantial correctness Of the statsment-
a copy of the letter has not been re-
| tained BY him: he had a rough draft,
which has been mislaid.
Lieut. Commander Hodgson appends
his signature as voucher for the acct
Eacy with which the foregoing is given.
| Very respectfully.
| IF. =. CHADWICK,
| Captain. L. :. Navy"
! - c. HODGSON.
| Lieutenant Commander. +. s. ""
''.ro the Secretary OF the Navy