The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-10-05
THE BROOKLYN's LOOP

Animated Correspondence Betweem
ScheIy and HOdgson.
Washington, Oct. 5.-Copies Of corre-
spondence between Lieutenant Hodgson
and Admiral Schley during the period from
June 6, 1898, to Aug. 20, 1901, were given
to the press to-day, with the statement
that the correspondence will be submits
ted to the Schley court Of inquiry by Lieu-
| tenant Hodgson while on the witness
stand.
On June 6, 1899, Admiral Schley wrote
Lieutenant Hodgson, enclosing an editor
ial from the New York Sun, alleging thae
colloquy had occurred between SchIey
and Hodgson on the bridge of the Brook
lyn during the battle Of Santiago, in the
course OF which the admiral is repre-
sented to have said:
Damn the Texas, let her look out for
herself" in reply to Hodgson's remon-
STRANGE against turning the ship to STAR
board. Characterizing this as a gro
tesQue lie," the admiral asked Hodgson to
write your denial Of this oft-repeated
calumny."
June 8, Hodgson responded in a very
long letter, dated at the New York navy
yard, denying. he authorized the pubica-
tion Of any conversation, and making
long explanation of what he says occurred
during the battle. He added that what
was printed "as part of a conversation
between you and me is substantially corr
rect, though not as to the manner in
which 1t took place."
Hodgson then tells of the rage with
which the Brooklyn people heard the sin
lister whisper, upon her return to Guam
tanamo bay, that they were gun shy
and he says that he gave what he thought
was a true explanation of that turn to
many officers of the fleet, none of whom
failed to agree with him. He explains
that Admiral Schley regarded this turn as
a strategical maneuver, looking to the
further part the Brooklyn was to play
in that days battle, rather than as an
effort to avoid interfering with the fire
of the other vessels of the fleet. In fact,
thought then, as / think now, that the
turn to starboard caused interference
Then Hodgson gives his explanation Of
the turn. He tells of the belief that ex-
listed that the Spanish ships outclassed
the Americans in speed, and that in the
absence of the New York the Brooklyn
was the only American ship capable Of
preventing the escape of the SpaniardB
should they pass the fire of the battle-
ships. The Spanish torpedo boats also
were 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 Theresa and
Vizcaya to get into closer action and ram
us, and after the leading Spanish ship
had reached just 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"
Il Immediately perceived that your cool
judgment at this trying moment had en-
abled you to consider the results of your
decision, and then, as now, it seemed
to me that you had decided, most wisely,
that it was 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
including the eOlloquy, that Schloy made
the turn to the starboard because the
conditions were as he (Hcdgson) had
stated. Continuing, he assured the adj
miral that he never would have given
the explanation he did OF the Loop bad