Evening star., 1896-12-16
BATTLE SHIP TEXAS
Secretary Herbert's Comments on the
Court Of Inquiry Findings.
A STATEMENT IN HIS own BEHALF
How the Accident Occurred and
Where the Blame Rests.
HISTORY OF THE VESSEL


The Secretary of the Navy today made
public the findings of the court of inquiry
which investigated the circumstances con-
nected W tn the recent sinking of the battle
ship Texas. In addition, the Secretary
makes statement on his own behalf, re-
citing the criticisms that have been passed
upon the ship and answering them In de-
tall. In substance he shows that the vessel
represented the best accepted type when
she was designed; that she had no more de-
1ects than are inherent in all new Ships
ana tnat other vessels of our navy which
ne names, were quite as much in need of
changes, although they have not been SO
unlucky; that the Texas has suffered frcm
surreptitious attacks by naval officers,
which he says must cease, and that Capts
Evans and Glass pronounced the Texas the
best sea boat of the squadron. The Secre-
tary quotes a letter from Mr.. Chas Cramp.
criticising Admiral Brown for attacking
against the Texas, and earnestly defending
the vessel herself as a good ship for her
time The Secretary points out that all of
tnis talk Is damaging to the interests of
OF our shipbuilders seeking foreign con-
tracts
Carelessness by Engineers.
The court Of inquiry found that the ves-
sci sank 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
by Chief Engineer Moore of the Texas in
not putting IN black hange when the
valve was disconnected. but he does not
deem 1t necessary to order further pro-
ceedingS.
Secretary Herbert's Answer.
Secretary Herberts answer to the many
criticisms that have been passed upon the
Texas is long and comprehensive state
ment and includes history of the design
and construction of the Texas "Of course
the public knows he says, that the ac-
cident about which this court of inquiry
was held could not nave occurred at sea-
that 1t happened because a part of an In
lection pipe had been taken out for repairs.
and that the ship was promptly raised
without having suffered any material cam
age.
The Secretary gives brief history of the
ship and says that all her defects have
been practically remedied, except those
relating to her turret and the system OF
water-tight compartments, developed by
the recent flooding of the vessels. Orders
have been given to have these deficiencies
completely remedied. and 1t is believed the
work can be done in a few weeks and at
comparatively small cost. In speaking
generally of the difficulty of constructing
an absolutely perfect ship, the Secretary
says:
"a modern war vessel is an aggregation
of complicated machines, and no expert ex-
poets ship to be at his best until it has
been shaken down by a cruise of months
ana tried thoroughly in all its parts.
1T is believed that We have made fewer
than any nation, and certainly less costly
mistakes than most others in the building
Of a modern navy; yet there were two OF
our ships, the Castine and the MachIas
that had to be cut in two and heightened.
There were three others, the Detroit the
Montgomery and the Marblehead, in which
1t was found essential to make far more
fundamental changes than have ever been
found necessary in the Texas, and yet the
latter ship, probably because the question
of her availability as naval war vessei
was mooted in the navy from the very in
ception of the ship, has been subject to AN
unusual amount of harsh criticism.
Action of Naval Ofcers.
1T is sometimes stated that there are
naval officers who are stealthily and surrep-
titiously aiding, through the press, to have
the public condemn a vessel of the United
States navy. If this were true there would
be no condemnation too strong and no
punishment too severe for such conduct
''The Texas has been cruising as part of
the North Atlantic squadron for the past
four months, since her bottom was stiff
fened at the Norfolk navy yard. Captain
Glass, one of the most efficient and relia-
BILE 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 service. Capt Rob-
ley D. Evans, commanding the Indiana,
holds the same opinion. He says that,
when the fleet, on the 18th of October, was
on it's way to New York, in a hurricane, in
the worst sea he had ever encountered, the
Texas showed that she was the most sea-
worthy ship in the fleet. Admiral Eunce
corroborates this statement
The Secretary refers to the controversy
that has arisen In regard to the ship, and
makes public a letter he received from Mr..
Charles Cramp of Philadelphia, in reply to
a statement credited to Admiral Brown. to
the effect that the troubles of the Texas
are not due to any defect in the ship, but
to a conspiracy among private ship build
ers to discredit and defame her, because
she was built in navy yard. Mr.. Cramp
characterizes the statement "a rank
absurdity," and says that instead of con-
spiracy to defame the Texas, he has always
defended her. He goes into the subject
In detail, and concludes his letter as fol-
lows:
Effect of Criticisms.
1.-The armor plate investigation, the allie
cations of defective stability and many
otner puDllShed criticisms on our ships
have been paraded by the English and Ger
mans in Japan. China and Russia and
their substance translated and printed in
newspapers there to our prejudice
Far more serious faults prevail in other
navies, but they are never known to the
pubic, because-it is policy to prevent ILL.,
judged or misconceived criticism of such
AFFAIRS. This policy is sound, because what
ever may be the faults or defects, they
certainly cannot be made good by printers
ink, conviction which 1 am sure YOU
share with me.
I'm conclusion, 1 remark that while I
have long deprecated this tendency. with
out saying much about it. have been pro-
voked to this somewhat emphatic protest
by the fact that Admiral Brown, as quoted
seems TO have reached the climax OF mis-
take and mischief
Secretary Herbert invites particular at
tention to Mr.. Cramps letter. II do NOT
mean to sssert," he says, that the Texas
is model ship. She was laid down ten
years ago. Many improvements have been
made since that time in turret and water
tight bulkhead systems. and also In the ais
tribution of batteries. What do mean RI
say ts that the Texas win prove herself to
be q valuable naval vessel
Admiral brown Must Not Tn,k.
AS IN any controversies, s>..,,-...-