Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-19
WHO is TO BLAME?

OF late public attention has been d.
rected to some OF the defective and un-
satisfactory features in connection with
a number of the latest additions in the
way of new battleships to the United
states navy. After experiencing some
twenty odd accidents and misshaps the
new battleship Texas which cost the
government $425o, 600, went to the bot
tom in the river at New York. This oc-
currence resulted in arousing public sem
timent to that pitch where nothing short
of an investigation into the condition of
our latest additions to the navy would
suffice. OF the developments which these
examinations and Investigations have
brought forth, the New Orleans Times
Democrat speaks as follows:
Well-posted authorities insist that the
Texas is quite unseaWorthy; and q feel
ing of relief was prevalent after its 60
ms to the bottom of the river that the ac-
cident did not happen at sea as the YES
sci must have disappeared with every
body on board.
Next came the disclosure respecting
the turrets Of the crack new battleship
Nassa chusetts. The turrets of this mag
nilleent vessel in which are situated her
heavy guns supposed until last week to
furnish perfect protection to the men
working the guns; but last week that
suppositon was shown to be an error
Somebody had cast doubts on the
strength OF these turretS; and an exact
a proving-ground under precisely the
same conditions as obtain on the battle
ship. Three projectiles were fired at the
duplicated turret, one from 10-ineh
gun which both penetrated and cracked
the armor, another from q 12-inch gun
which carried the work of destruction
further; and a third from the t2-inch
gun with a heavier projectile and a big
ger charge of powder
This ia q condensed account of the last
projectile's work. 1t passed clear through
the plate. The shot was broken up in
forcing its way through the plate. The
larger pieces went through the covering
plate on the rear side of the turret,
smashing things generally Had the tur-
ret been occupied at the time, it is doubt
ful II any one would have escaped being
killed by the flying missiles. The guns
would have been rendered useless and
the ship would have practically been out
of the battle, as half of her armament
would have been disabled.
After this disclosure, the turrets of the
other battleships are going to be tested
AN operation which most people will
think would have been more seasonably
performed before the erection of the tur-
rets-and what the result will be it is not
altogether pleasant to contemplate
And then come the defective steel plates
delivered at Newport News for the sides
Of the Kearsage and the Kentucky, to
which we referred the other day. The
committee of naval officers appointed by
Secretary Herbert to investigate this sub
ject has discovered that the evil is worse
and more extensive than was anticipated.
A dispatch in another column gives the
disheartening information that the re-
suits already ascertained by the commit
tee are equivalent to a condemnation of
nearly the whole amount" Goo tons) al
ready delivered at Newport News. "SiS
out OF twelve test pieces, which should
have been capable of being folded back
on themselves without breaking, either
broke short off as readily as cast iron OF
tore apart with less brittleness, but none
the less certain evidence of failing ia
meet the contract requirements"
Nor Is this rottenness in these Car
negie-manufactured steel plates likely to
be confined to the deliveries referred to-
| it is suspected that the steel supplied by
the same firm for the hull OF the Illinois
is also defective in ductility and an ex-
animation of 1t is going to be instituted
as well.
But, with all these disclosures, Ameri-
cans may well become dubious as to the
soundness of Uncle Sans new naval YES
sells. Rotten material having been dis
covered in so many instances, the imagi-
nation proceeds of course to find rotten
ness where none has yet been discovered,