The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-17
Secretary Herbert Says She has
Faults But Loves Her STILL.
JOINTS A LITTLE STIFF
But Naval Of1cers Must Not
Mention It.
Only A BIG "JF" MADE HER SINK
her Bottom i1aying Been "stffsned
Up." Capt. Evans Pronounces Her
to be the "stffest Thing" of the
Kind in the Service.
Kind in the Service.

Washington, Dec 16--The Navy De-
partment to-day made public the findings
Of the court Of Inquiry which investigat-
ed the facts connected with the sinking of
the Texas in dry dock at New York re-
Gently In addition Secretary Herbert
gave out statement reciting the criti-
cisms that have been passed upon the
ship ard answering them in detail. In
substance he shows that the vessel rep
resented the best accepted type when she
was designed; that the Texas had no
more defects than are Inherent in all
new ships and that other vessels Of our
navy which he cites were quite as much
in need Of changes although they have
not been SO unlucky; that she has suffer
ed from suTreptitious attacks by naval
officers which must cease; and that Cap
tains Evans and Glass pronounce the
Texas the best sea boat OF the squadron.
The Secretary quotes letter from
Charles Cramp criticising admiral Brown
for attacking private ship-builders MS
conspirators against the Texas, but earn
estly defending the vessel herself as
good ship for her time and the Secretary
points out that this talk is damaging to
the interests Of the Navy and disastrous
to the aspirations Of our ship-builders
seeking foreign contracts. Continuing
the Secretary says:
There have been several accidents
to the ship since she was commissioned
Different parts of her machinery have,
from time to time developed defects and
it at one time became apparent that her
bottom needed stiffening. She was sent
Eg he at NIE
bottom was stiffened and her defects
have, it is believed, speaking generally,
all been remedied except those relating
to her turret and the system of water
tight compartments developed by the re-
cent flooding of the vessel as shown by
the finding of the court Of inquiry. given
out herewith.
'"Ihe department has given orders that
these deficiencies be completely remedied,
which can and win be done in few
weeks at the New York Navy yard and
at comparatively small cost.
"The Texas has been cruising as a
part Of the North Atlantic squadron for
the past four months since her bottom
was stiffened at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Captain Glass, one Of the most efficient
and reliable officers Of the Navy who has
been in command Of her, declares that
she is the stiffest, most easily managed
and entirely seaworthy ship in the SER
vice. Captain Robley d. Evans, com
manding the Indiana holds the same opin-
ion. He says that when the fleet on the
18th Of October was on its way to New
York in a hurricane, in the worst sea he
had ever encountered, the Texas showed
that she was the most seaworthy ship in
the fleet"
The Court Of Inquiry found that the
vessel sunk because Of a flaw in a valve
yoke casting which broke and let in the
water and that no one was TO blame.
Secretary Herbert, however, finds that
there was carelessness exhibited by Chief
Engineer Farmer, OF the New York
Navy yard and Chief Engineer Moore, of
the Texas in not putting in blank
fange when the valve was disconnected,
but no further proceedings are ordered.