The age-herald., 1901-10-05
DID SCHLEY "D..N
 THE TEXAS,' AS HODCSON SAYS?

Washington, October 4-Copies Of cor respondence between Lieutenant Hodgson and Admiral Schley during the period from June 6. 1899, to August 20. 1sOl, were given to the press today with the state ment that the correspondence will be sup- mftted to the Schley court of inquiry by Lieutenant Hodgson while on the witness stand. On June 6, 1899, Admiral Schley wrote Lieutenant Hodgson enclosing an editorial from the New YorA Sun alleg- ing that a colloquy had occurred between Scbley and Hodgson on the bridge of the Brooklyn during the battle of Santiago. in the course of which the Admiral Is represented to have said:
 Damn the Texas, let her look out for herself" in reply to Hodgson's remon- strance against turning the ship to star board. Characterizing this as 'grotesque lie the Admiral asked Hodgson to write a denial on the subject.
 June Hodgson responded in a very long letter dated at the New ork navy yard denying he authorized the publica- tion of any conversation and making ar explanation of what he says occurred during the battle. He auded that what was printed as part of conversation between you and me Is substantially correct, though not as to the manner In which it took place"
 Brooklyn Crew Enraged.
 "Hodgson then tells of the rage with which the Brooklyn people heard the sim ister whisper upon her return to Guam tanamo bay, that they were gun shy and he says that he gave what he ,1If f-t,n axrralo tnY, nff fhnf turn to many officers of the fleet, none of whom failed to agree with him. He ex- plains 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 firt of other vessels of the fleet. In fact thought then, as I think now, that the turn to starboard caused more interfer- ence."
 Then Hodgson gives his explanation of the turn. He tells of the belief that existed 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 or the Spaniards should they pass the fire of the battle ships. The Spanish torpedo boats also were to be reckoned with. Therefore, 1" says Hodgson, after putting the helm to starboard and to port once or twice to counteract the efforts of the Theresa and Viscaya to get into closer action and ram us, and after the leading Spanish ship had reached just little abaft our port beam, we decided to port the helm and turn around in chase to prevent the es- cape of any of the Spanish vessels" Danger of Collision.
 "Hodgson writes that he suggested that the Texas was off their starboard 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; l that 1t was imperative to get around i'm mediately, and by turning to port he would get so close to the enemy that you would expose yourself to attack from the torpedo boats; that a lucky shot or two by the enemy might disable the Brooklyn and that you did not propose to run such a risk at that stage of the battle when it