The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-17

brought out. naturally. from among the
navy officers who are acquainted with
the snip some very stout defenders,
among others Admiral Brown, command
ant at the New York navy yard who
Knows more about her than any one else
cXceDt her captain"
The secretary includes in his statement
letter from Mr.. Charles H. Cramp in
reference to Admiral Brown. whose
statements appear TO have been mis-
understood by the reporters and sub
Jected him TO some criticism. Mr..
Cr2mp. also gives his approval of the
plans of the Texas The secretary then
says:
Il do not mean to assert that the
down ten years ago. Many improve
ments have been made since that time
in turret and watertight b1lkhead sys-
TENS and also in the distribution of
batteries.
AS to any controversy between Adj
nliral Brown and the shipyards | have
directed him not TO talk for publication
hereafter in relation to the Texas, and
II Is my earnest desire that all naval
oflcers shall pursue similar course.
especially desire to call attention to
what MIR. Cramp says in his letter about
the effect in foreign countries of the very
frequent criticisms upon American ships
by portion of the American press.
nave direct information from sources
other than Mr.. Cramps letter which
bears out his statements.
Both China and Japan are building
navies. Our ship builders naturally de-
SIRE the custom of these two countries.
am credibly Informed that the certain
shtDbuilders of other countries who were
competing last spring with American
shipbuilders for contracts with the
japanese government had collected
large number of very sharp criticisms of
American ships, and put them all in ar
ray before the Japanese authorities for
the purpose Of showing that we do not
know how to build ships in this country.
nf ha try haC
generally loyal to the navy, and has
been largely instrumental in its success
ful upbuilding and development; its ser
vices in this direction cannot be too
heartily acknowledged. l submit Mr..
Cramps letter, however. for the purpose
of pointing out to some of our news
paper friends that unintentional in
justice to American ships, is liable to re-
suit from charging upon minor mis-
takes that may have been committed,
even though at other times full credit
be given for the substantial successes
that have been attained
AS TO the mistakes of rival nations,
they can, as a rule, only be learned
through strictly professional channels.
So that our shipbuilders when going
abroad for customers, are at disad-
vantage when confronted with criticisms
which certainly never were written with
the thought that they would be used for
who conduct and control our press will
agree with me that American Shipbuild-
erS have no SuperiorS-
In making this statement. let me say,
that l do not intend 10 be drawn into a
controversy about the Texas, 1 only wish
to put the public in possession of the
most important facts about this ship.
and l certainly do not deny the right or
duty of the press to criticise naval
methods. The department has some
times even had its attention profitably
directed TO points in naval administra-
ton that might otherwise in the routine
of business have escaped attention, and
whether it adopts them or not, it always
welcomes suggestions which are meant
10 be, as most of them are. in the inter-
ests of the navy.
H A HERBERT