Evening journal., 1901-10-05
HODGSON SHOWS
NCHLRY LETTERS
Alleged COllOQOy Between Or
fCOrS Is Denied
Admiral Schley Says That 1t Vas Not
Captain Cook Who Gave Order
10 Part

hOuBsOn ana Admiral Schley during
the period from June 6. 1899, to Au-
gust 20. 1901, were given to the press
yesterday, with the statement that the
correspondence win be submitted to
the Schley court of inquiry by Lieu
tenant Hodgson while on the witness
stand Most Of It already has been
published I'm the newspapers, although
part OF II has not been made public
heretofore. On June 6, 1899, Admiral
Schley wrote Lieutenant Hodgson, en-
closing an editorial from the New
York Sun, alleging that colloquy
had occurred between Schley and
Hodgson on the bridge Of the Brook.
lyn during the battle OF Santiago. in
the course Of which the admiral is re-
ported to have said.
Damn Damn the Texas; let her
look out for herself" In reply to
Hodgson's remonstrance against turn
ing the ship to starboard. Character
izing this as a 'grotesque lle," the ad-
miral asked Hodgson TO write me
your denial OF this oftrepeated
cAlumny."
June 8 Hodgson responded in a very
long letter. dated at the New York
navy yard. denying he authorized the
publication OF any conversation and
making a long explanation of what no
says occurred during the battle. He
added that what was printed "as part
Of a conversation between You and me
Is substantially correct, though not 30
as 10 the manner in which II took
place"
Hodsson's Explanation.
Hodgson then tells OF the rage with
which the Brooklyn people heard the
sinister whisper, upon her return to
Guantanamo Bay, that they were gun
shy, and he says that he gave what
he thought was true explanation Of
that turn 10 many officers OF the feet
none Of whom failed to agree with him.
He explains as that he though" that
Admiral schley regarded this turn aH
q strataglcal manoeuvre, 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
feet. In fact thought then, as / think
now, that the turn TO starboard caused
more interference,
Then Hodgson gives his explanation
OF the turn. He tells of the belief that
existed that the Spanish ships out
classed the Americans In speed and
that IN the absence OF the New York
and Brooklyn was the only American
ship capable Of preventing the escape
OF the spaniards should they pass the
fire OF the battleships. The Spanish
torpedo boats also were to bo reckoned
with"
Therefore" says Hodgson, "after
putting the helm to starboard and to
port once or twice to conteract the
efforts OF the Theresa and Dizcaya to
get into closer action and ram us. and
after the leading Spanish ship had
reached just a little above our port
beam, you decided port the helm, and
turn around in chase to prevent the
escape OF any OF the Spanish vessels" Z"
HodgsOn writes that It was he who
| suggested backing the starboard engine
but that Schley said: mo, because II
would deaden our speed Of turning. and
you wish so get around as quick as
possible" However" he continues,
i Immediately perceived that your
cool judgment at this trying moment
had enabled you to consider the re-
suits Of your decision and then, as now,
It seemed to me that you mad decided
most wisely, that It was a strateglcal
move Of the greatest importance and
that the result of the battle most fully
proved its wisdom"
Cook Really Gave the Order.
Schley's reply to Hodgson, under
date OF June 10, 1899, says the turn
to port was made in order to leave the
Spanish ships exposed to the uninter-
rupted fire of all the American feet,
but II was Cook who really gave the
order. He then asks Hodgson for a
denial of the colloquy.
Two letters came June II from the
New York navy yard in answer to
this letter. one, very short. Hodg.
son says "The colloQuy published
/ IN the New lolk sun, ana dlioBeu 10
have taken place between you and
me on the day of the battle of San
tiago. July 3, 1898, never occurred
The other was explanatory. Schley
returned thanks for the denial fur
nished, adding touching the colloquy:
"Your statement that it never oc-
CURED is absolutely true"
Next in the correspondence is a re-
port from Captain Chadwick to the
secretary Of the navy upon the inquiry
he made by the derection Of the de-
partment into this alleged colloquy.
This has been published heretofore,
including Hodgson's statement that he
did not intend to convey in his note
of denial. sent at the request Of Ad-
miral Schley, the idea that no such
colloquy took place. and that all he
! sought was TO rolute the r'i1g.tion
that a contro scrsy existed Il critical
stage Of the tatrle.
Under date of July 4, 1899, Hodgson
writes from New York to Schley. call
ing attention to the newspaper at