The San Francisco call., 1901-10-05
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LETTER HoDasoN WROTE.

. y
LETTER HoDGsoN WROTE.
WASHINGTON. Oct. z.-Copies Of CORE
spondence between Lieutenant Eodgson and
Admiral Schley during the period from June 6,
1883. to August 25, 1901. were given to the press
to-day with the statement that the CORE
spondenoe will be submitted to the Schley court
by Lieutenant HOdgson while on the witness
stand. Most Of II already has been published
in the newspapers. although a part of il had
not been published heretofore.
On June 6, 1883, admiral Schley wrote Lieu
tenant Eodgson, fnclOsing editorial from
the New York sun. alleging that a cOllOQuy
had occurred between Schley and Hodgson on
the bridge of the Brooklyn during the battle
= or+S - Ie[-e LID. Damn the Te@rse- Iet
her look out for herself in reply to Hodgson 5
remonstrance against turning the ship 10 star
board. Characterizing this a grOtesque lie,
the admiral asked HodgsOn to write your de-
MAJ OF TINS oI1-reL1esaJed caiul1na- On June
EiOCgsOn responded in q very long letter, dated
al the New York Navy Yard, denying he au-
thorizeo the publication or any conversation,
and making a long explanation OF what he says
occurred during the battle He added that what
was printed as a part OF a conversation be-
tween you and me is substantially correct,
though not as 10 the manner in which it took
Hodgson then tells Of the rage with which the
Brooklyn men heard the sinister whisper, upon
her return 10 Guantanamo Bay, that they were
gun shy." and he says he gave what he
thought was true explanation of that turn
10 many officers of the fleet. of whom
Admiral Schley regarded this turn as STRAIT
egical rnaneuYer, locking TO the further part
the Brooklyn was TO play in that days battle
rather than as an effort TO avoid interfering
with the IRE Of the other vessels of the fleet.
In fact. I thought then as I think now, that
the turn 10 starboard caused more interfer-
ence."
Then Hodgson gives his explanation of the
turn. He tells Of the belief that existed that
the Spanish ships OuUcIassed the Americans in
speed, ana that il the absence Of the New
York the Brooklyn was the only American ship
7f of f=b
ships should they escape the hre Of the battle
ships The Spanish torDedo-boats were also to
be reckoned with. Therefore, says Hodgson
after putting the helm TO starboard and TO
port once or twice TO cOunteract the efforts of
the Teresa and Niscaya to get into closer
action and ram Us. and after the leading Span
lsh vessel had reached just a little abaft our
port beam, you decided to port the helm and
turn around in chase TO prevent the escape of
any Of the Spanish vessels"
hodgson writes that he suggested that the
I eNas was art their starbCard BEAM and that
there was danger Of running into her and
getting right across her line Of fire, and that
Schley replied that the Texas would have to
look out FOR that: that It was Imperative to
get around Immediately, and by turning TO
port you would be 50 close TO the enemy that
sou would expose yourself to attack from the
torpedo boats. that lucky shot or two by
the enemy might disable the Brooklyn and
that you oio not propose to run such a risk
at that stage OF the battle, when it was so
rnnecessaT-y and when 50 much depended upon
the speed Of the Brooklyn.
Hodgson writes that he then suggested back
ing the StarbOard engine. because il would
shorten the circle and give the Texas q wider
berth and that Schley replied, after a pause,
no. because il would deaden our speed Of
turning, and you wish 70 get around as quick
as possible. For weeks after the battle Cap
tain Cook was under the impression that we
had backed the starboard engine
EOdgsOn suggests that in making the sug-
gestiol ne was discharging his duty as the
navigator OF the ship. charged with her safety
and al the moment did not consider the effect
Of the turn upon the results Of the battle and
he added 4 Immediately perceived that your
cool judgment at this trying moment had en-
led 81 u
cision, and then, as now, it seems to me that
you had decided most wisely. that il a
strategical move Of the greatest Importance
and that the result Of the battle proved its
wisdom"
Hodgson goes on to declare that he was under
the impression. UP TO the time he saw the
New York sun publication, in regard to the
colloquy, that Schley made the turn to star
bOarQ because the conditions were as he
CHodgson) had stated Continuing he assures
the admiral that he would have never given
the explanation he had Of the loop had he for
a moment suspected that the admiral had given
any other reason
Under date OF Washington, June 10, 1899.
Admiral Schley. disclaiming any sense Of an
noyance from the newspapers comments, says:
But do feel for yourself that colloquy
should be made up by them that did not occur
between you and me, and II 1s this that
desire 70 protect you against. OF course you
did not authorize this. and It is this dialogue
ton whatever OF anything Of the kind and
my story is exceedingly clear Of the events
OF that cay, Tor / never felt in my life less
excitement OF more steaoiness Of judgment
than when the Dons came out that day. When
the turn was made the Brooklyn was, in my
Judgment, within the distance Of their tactical
diameter, and II Il had been made 20 port
we should have passed inside their line but
having them exposed 70 the interrupted fire
of all the ships. important in the earlier
moments in the fight. the proper strategy Of
Q battle wes to avoid interfering with that.
ard the sequel shows that we made no mis-
take Cook really gave the order which I
approved, and It is possible that your con-
versation with him, but the Suns effort
has been to promote the notion that you and
I had q controversy at the critical moment,
and this is unjust TO you and me- What
desire IS simply your denial that any s1Ich
coIlocuy occurred, and I viii see that rrorer
correction is made to cover you from this SIAN
DER There is much in your letter that 7
should not like to use. it would provoLoe
assault upon you. which I am unwilling 10
have happen. but what I want TO show &c
simply this dialogue did not occur and that
shown the whole f1imsy canard fails n tbe
ground Make your letter short as possible
On June II Hodgson writes: The coIloouD
published in the Sun and alleged 10 have
taken place between you and on the dav
Of the battle of Santiago, July 9, 1898 never
occurred"
Admiral Schley returns thanks for the dental
furnished adding. touching the colloquy your
statement that never occurred is al -