New-York tribune., 1896-12-10
DEFECTTTE NAVAL PLATES.
A STARTLING STATEMENT MADE AT
THE DEPARTMENT.
AN OFFICIAL SAYS THAT ALL STEEL FURNISHED
by TIE CARNEGIEs FOR THE KEAKsARGE
AND KENTUCKY NAY PROVE FAULTY
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

-FRAJD NOT ALLEGED
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBrSEl
Washington. Dec a-Thc rather star'hhs STATE
mcnt was made at the Navy Department TO-DAY
that investigation may show that all the steer TUT
nisbed bv ,he Carnegie Company for the battle
ships Koarsarge and Kentucky IL defective. IN"
statement was made by an official VINO IL IN posi-
.ion to know many inside facts relating 10 IN"
quality Of the steel for these vessels whch mas r"
far been delivered. probably I1 tons inquiry
among OF her officers tends TO prove that who"sae
condemnation of material supplied for the ships s
based on suspicion which has been occasioned hy
the development that the fng-n steel between the
hull brackets OF the vessels has been found to crack
when bent over TO an angle of 90 degrees, although
the requirements fix the limit at l~ degrees Naval
officers reason that II the illing-in plates are iauy
a doubt is cast on all steel furnished for the ships'
as the weakness Of the plates specified was dis
covered by Naval Constructor Woodward at the
Newport News Works. accidentally not az result
Of thorough experiments
There appears TO be general desire among oni-
GERS for a thorough investigation. They seem 70 De
bent on getting all the facts. having In view the
maintenance of the highest credit OF naval vessels
They have no feeling for or against the Carnegie
Company they say that If plates have been sup
piled by firm which defective the intelii-
gence should to light at once In order that
while the ships in the early stages OF consiruc-
ton faulty material If found. can be replaced by
that which is up to the requirements.
Relative 10 the seel-manufacurers officers state
ment that as the company has shown so much
energy and turned such excellent material here
of late they would regret TO learn that IN the
case OF the Kearsarge and the Kentucky there has
been anything resembling fraud. these seem 20 be
Secretary Herberts views. The Secretary has thus
far made no criticism OF the Csrnegies nor will he
unless il is conclusively shown by the board OF
officers appointed to Inquire into the facts that the
Governmcn, has been aed. and steel not up 20
standard quality has been furnished in place OF iha;
called for by contract and specifications. AT present
the Secretary prefers not be quoted one way or
the other in the matter.
Already reports are in circulation as 10 proha-
bic inquiry by the House Committee on Naval AZ
fairs into the case II can BE- SAID. however tina;
there is far ground for any such reports
That committee would not institute an inNesgai ION
merely on preliminary allegations. l. X unlikely
that il would take steps II IL appears that the
Navy Department Is pursuing n course calculated
to protect the best interests Of the Navy In the
matter Of construction.
A naval official to-day explained 70 Tribune
correspondent the character OF the plates FOR the
two ba tle-ships which Il is alleged are defective
The officer made the positive statement that the
plates were faulty and had been rejected. He said
ha, in bra cling the hull OF an armorcd vessc. GER
| tain brackets were employed. Between these brack
els to insure great strength to this part OF ths
hull there are placed what are known as hling-ir
mates These siiffcn the intermediate spaces be-
| tween brackets 1t Is these hng-in sheets which
have fallen below the lowest limit OF tolerance, and
n he unfit for use The official said that while ihcr,
| was no disposition 70 reflect on the Carncgi" Com
| pany 1t was deemed wise 70 have "A professional
opinion only az 10 the quality OF ms steel bu
| TWO ships He careful not 20 charge fraud or
| the par, OF the company.