The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-17

II. Cramp, by whose permission / give 1t
to the public:
Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. G, 1S96.--To the
Honorable, the Secretary of the Navy.
Washington, d. O.. Dear Sir: The New
York and Washington papers have recently
printed some extraordinary statements
concerning the Texas attributed to Admiral
Brown.
AT first l gave them little attention,
but they were iterated and reiterated and
elaborated from day to day without dis
clalmer from the admiral until they as
sumed a status of cumulative evidence to
the effect that if the admiral was not re-
sponsible for them, his failure to disaVow
them became tantamount to responsi-
bility.
1.-The substance OF these statements Is
that the troubles OF the Texas are not due
to any defect in the ship, but to con-
spiracy among private ship builders to
discredit and to defame her because she
was built in a navy yard.
While the rank absurdity of such a
statement might at first glance seem its
own refutation, yet the high rank of its
alleged, and thus far not disputed source,
compels attention.
Now, on my own part. / know that
instead of 'conspiring to defame the
Texas / have always defended her to an
extent that has made me obnoxious to
many officers in the navy who were bitter
ly opposed to the adoption Of MIR. Johns
scheme.
"'When the plans were under consd-
GRAFTON, Secretary Whitney Independently
of the board, invited the judgment of 9TH
ers, including myself, and / examined the
drawings and specifications carefully, MY
verdict was that the plans We're good,
symmetrical and practicable. They might
not be absolutely the best possible, but
they We're by odds the best submitted in
that competition.
The scantlings were light. but their
lightness was symmetrical and as a
whole, her hull construction involved the
best mechanical distribution OF minimum
weight that l had ever seen. The prac-
tice abroad at that time was to reduce
scantlings to the lowest limit of weight.
The steel era was new and many design
ers thought that because steel had more
tensile strength than iron, thickness could
be proportonatey reduced and equivalent
rigidity and strength still maintained.
This led to extraordinary demands of arm
or and armament on small displacements,
and the Texas and other ships designed at
that time reached the climax of this ten
dency, which had been approved and
adopted by our naval authorities In cer-
tain ships of that date.
Such was my opinion of the plans OF
the Texas then, and ! have never seen
any reason 10 after IL.
Returning now to the alleged con-
spiracy,' against navy yards, state en-
phatically that / have never handled the
subject OF navy yard methods except In
public hearings before committees, and
once in the Washington Post, making no
secret OF my responsibility for the pub
lication.
I'm this / did not attack the quality Of
the work done IN navy yards. but produc-
4 ,ssft tal, NOD m a
navy department for the House committee
on appropriations showing that on the ba-
sis OF my bids to build the Raleigh ana Gin
cinnati, would have built three such ships
for what those two cost In the navy yards,
and / did this to meet and overthrow a
combinauon-I win not say conspiracy
between the New York. Norfolk and Mare
Island navy yards against the contract
system.
AT the same time. I admitted this high
cost was due to the necessary red tape and
military methods inseparable from any ana
all attempts of the government to operate
as a manufacturer.
Apart from and beyond the foregoing
considerations. / have always and most
strenuousy deprecated public criticism
and discussion of such matters for the
reason that they are used abroad TO handi-
can our Industries In competition for Tor
eign work.
"'For example, III Hung Chang asked
me why do the South American repuD-
lies go to England for their shipsY ana
learned that he was prompted to this IN
oulrv nv the Chinese government I'm con-
sequence of the fact that both the British
and German ministers TO China had called
attention 10 the matter and had told the
Chinese authorities that It was because
good ships could not be built here.
THE armor plate Investigation, the
allegations of defective stability ana
many other published criticisms on our
ships, have been paraded by the Engllsh
and Germans in Japan, China and Russia
and their substance translated and print
ed IN newspapers there to our prejudice.
Far more serious faults prevail IN
other navies but they are never known
10 the public because II is policy TO pre-
vent nl-judged or misconceived criticisms
Of such affairs This policy is sound, be-
cause whatever may be the faults or de-
fects, they certainly cannot be made good
by printers ink, a conviction which. am
sure you share with me.
lin cCnclusion / remark that while i
have long deprecated this tendency with
out saying much about II, l have been
provoked to this somewhat emphatic pro-
test by the fact that Admiral Brown,
as quoted, seems to have reached the
climax of mistake and mischief
"'Very respectfully.
"'Charles II. Cramp.'
II call particular attention TO what mr..
Cramp says about the plans Of the Texas.
The very remarkable qualities as a sea-go-
ing vessel she has demonstrated certainly
vindicate his judgment. ! do not mean
70 assert that the Texas is a model ship.
She was laid down ten years ago. Many
improvements have been made since that
time in turret and water-tght bulkheai
systems and also In the distribution Of
batteries. What 1 do mean TO say Is that
the Texas Will prove herself to be a valua-
BILE naval vessel.
"As to any controversy between Admiral
Brown and the shlpyards ! have directed
him not to talk for publication hereafter
In relation TO the Texas, and IL Is my
earnest desire that all naval officers shall
pursue similar course.
81 especially desire to call attention 10
what Mr. Cramp says in his letter about
the effect I'm foreign countries OF the very
frequent criticisms upon American ships
by a portion OF the American press. I
have 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 desire the custom OF
these two countries. ] am credibly in
formed that certain shlp-builders Of other