The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-05
HODGSON.SCHLEY COLLOQUY.
Copy of the Correspondence on Subject Will
Be Submitted 10 Court.
nv Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, October i.-Copies of
CORES ondence between Lieutenant Hodg-
son and Admiral Schley during the period
from June g. 1899, to August 1901, were
given to the press to-day with the state
ment that the CORES pondence will be
submitted to the sch!ey Court of inquiry
by Hodsson while on the witness stand.
Most of it already has been published
in the newspapers, although a part of it
has not been made public heretofore.
On June 6. 1899, Admiral Schley wrote
Lieutenant Hodgson enclosing editorial
from the New York Sun. alleging that q
colloquy had occurred between Schley and
Hodgson on the bridge of the Brooklyn
during the Battle of Santiago in the
course of which tire Admiral is repre-
sented to have said: "Dam the Texas.
let her look out for herself" in reply to
Hodgsons remonstrance against turning
the ship to starhoard,
Charactc.'izing this as ''grotesQue lie
the Admiral asked Hodgscn to write me
your denial of this oft-repeated caIumny."
June Sth Hodgson responded in a very
long letter dated at the New York Navy
Yard. denying he authorized the puc!ica-
ton of any conversation and making Il
long eEplana ton of what he says occurred
during the battle He added shat what
was printed Part of conversation
between you and is substantially cor
rect. though not so as to the manner in
which it took place.
Under date OF Washington, June Q, 1892
Admiral Schley wrote concerning the al
legged colloquy: 81 have no recollection
of anything of the kind, and my memory
is exceedingly clear on the events of that
day. for I never felt in all my life less
excitement or more steadiness OF judg-
ment 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 if it had been made to port We
should probably have passed inside their
line, but having them exposed to the un-
interrupted fire of all the ships. so i'm
portant in the earlier moments Of the
fight, the proper strategy of a battle was
to avoid interfering with them. and the
sequel shows that we made no mistake.
Cook really gave TIA order. which | aD-
proved. and it is possible that your con-
versation was with him. What I desire
is simply your denia! that any such col
loQuy occurred
Two letters came June II, from the New
York Navyyard, in answer to this letter.
In one, very short. Hodgson says: The
collouly published in the New York Sun
and alleged to have taken place between
you and me on the day of the battle
of Santiago, July 3, 1898, never occurred.
The second letter gives Hodgson's YER
son of the colloquy.
Admiral Gchey returns thanks for the
denial furnished adding touching the col
loqlIy: Your statement that it never oc-
Cured is absolutely true.
Next in the correspondence is report
from Captain Chadwick, including FIody
sons statement that he did not intend
to convey in his note of dental. sent al
the request of Admiral Schley. the i{le:u
that no such colloquy took place. and that
all he sought was to refute the allega-
ton that controversy existed at Il crit
lea! stage of the battle.
The remainder of the correspondence
concerns Hodgson's efforts to obtain
copies of the correspondence while Schlcv
was on the South American station. Copies
were made On Schley's return to this
country, and filed with the Navy De-
partment August 26. 1901.