The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-29

The statement made by Captain Fran
els A. Cook. in which he unequivocally
denounces as "outrageously incorrect"
ing, ran two miles 10 the southwark con-
finues to attract much attention from
naval officers at Newport.
These have not been slow to recognize
the Importance OF that statement, for II
Il can be proved that the Brooklyn turn
ed an quickly as her tactical diameter
would permit, and which her commander
now asserts she did. then the whole fab
ric OF accusation against Rear Admiral
Schley for ''caitiff flight" during the bat
tie, must come tumbling back upon the
heads of his accusers.
Moreover, II Captain Cooks claim Is
proved, naval officers here say, IL will
reduce TO ins.gnifcance the tenth para
graph OF Secretary Longs precept TO the
court OF inquiry. the one involving the
colloquy between Rear Admiral Schley.
and the Brooklyn navigator. Lieutenant
Commander A. c. Hodgson and the Put
ycur helm TO port" order of one and the
'You mean to starboard" reply of the
other, will lose the importance which
hitherto attached 10 this alleged conver-
sation.
captain COOK To-Day Te1uSed 10 ampury
his statement and said that he must de-
cline TO say anything more on the SUBJ
Sect.
HODGsON's CONFIRMATION.
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson, who is
now stationed at Newport at first posi-
lively refused 10 say a word for pubi-
cation. but after II had been pointed out
that his former commanding officer had
l.. 81 n.
though with evident reluctance, to APP
pear In print and substantiated Captain
Cooks statement in positive sentences.
II was on the bridge of the Brooklyn"
he said "and therefore had full opportu-
nifty Of observing all that was going on.
ITO my personal knowledge the helm
was kept hard aport during the whole
time OF turning the loop until eased up
20 parallel the course OF the Viscaya
then about twenty-eight hundred yards
away on the starboard bow. AS the
Brooklyn's tactical diameter. is only
about six hundred yards, she therefore
could not have run further than six hun
dred yards to the southwark"
As some other witnesses OF the Brook
jyn's manoeuvre have estimated the dis
tance she ran TO the southwark al, the
way from two TO five miles IL will be at
once recognized how extremely important
for Rear Admiral schley's case Is the re-
cent statement OF Captain Cook and this
supporting testimony OF his navigating
officer.
Since the order OF the navy department
establishing the court OF inquiry was is
sued every naval officer now at Newport
who was in any way concerned with the
controversy refuses to discuss any phase
OF the affair.
GRAPHIC STORY OF THE LOOP"
But one who was on the Brooklyn dur
fng the battle gave In a personal CONVEX
sstion this graphic description Of the
scene Immediately after the vessel had
completed her famous loop.
'As we Strengthened out on a course
parallel with that OF the enemy" he said,
u noticed that we had three OF the SPAN
ish ships IN line abreast. the leading ves-
sci being OF opr stsrboard bow. Every
gun OF the Brooklyns starboard battery
was blazing, arr the smoke from them
hid everything astern.
II looked around 10 see what our other
ships were doing. but could soc none OF
them. the rolling clouds OF smoke from
our gurs ohscuring everything astern and
70 q point we'll forward OF our starboard
quarter
II turned 10 Captain Cook. who was
stand ing near and said we are pretty
lonesore out here He glanced back
and l1sf then We both saw what first
looked IKE small tidal wave-a ridge
~ vsfcr with foam boiling about a. As
we starcd az The spparaiion which came
out Of the .<oc like smoke lying on our
>tsrbcsrd qlartef the great gray bows
II hattie ship came into view. and we
know thal the wasc which Rad puzzled us
we fhc bow wave which the Oregon was
>aKr1ine IA her NhiiNInd- rush for the
tnens,
The tfrndcr ~ our own guns had
dror 'cs M crashing brosdsldss of that
snlSndid hstticship and not unrl then
"a We hnos mat tho Oregon was any
where mar US
LirrTENANT SNAPS REPORT.
comparison Of Inc report cf me battle
~ sartisso. a. originally written by