New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-14
THE FOOTE SEVERELY CRITICISED.
SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THE TORPEDO BOAT
CHARGED BY THE LINE OFFICERS ON
THE INSPECTION BOARD.

Washington, July 13.-Rarely in the history OF
the Navy Department has a boat offered for ac-
ceptance received such severe criticism from the
Inspection Board the torpedo boat Footc, built
by the Columbian Iron Works. has received In
report just made public. II must be said. however.
that the adverse criticisms came from the line
officers the Board. and that the constructor
and the engineer differed widely from them
that in justice 10 the builders. they felt bound
to make separate dissenting reports, defending
the little craft The boat fulfilled the speed-con-
tract requirements.
The Board In its report asserted that the steering
gear was defective in that It damned when put
hard over and could he got back only when
the engines stopped. Such steering qualities. says
the Board would be fatal In an attack, but II
admits that the fault could be remedied. owing.
as ii IT, to unbalanced rudder. Steam steering
gear Is really useless such small craft in any
case It is said. Admitting that the boat is
marka bly, steady at high speed. the Board finds
that she carries great stern wave and carries
n bone In her teeth" and this. IN their opinion. Is
also grave fault the presence OF the boat
would thus be made known 10 the enemy at night
in an attack. The biz stern wave Is attributed
10 the position OF the screws being too far back
The boat is found 10 be structuraly sound. and
the interior well arranged and in fact in all
specis I'm compliance with the contract. but the
Board sums up Its objections as follows:
The Foo,e does not impress the Board as being
being based on ta) the lack of speed. tb) her poor
steering qualities. (c her great disturbance of the
water. fier contract speed was attained with
great difficulty after a delay OF nearly two hours
before going over the course and with such effect
upon the men that Immediately Tpon passing the
final buoy the boat stopped out In the water
for another two hours. and all hands rushed
deck for relief. man dying before the cote
could reach Annapolis. and another being over
powered TO be rendered useless the remainder
OF the day and possibly for some time. Moreover
this speed which was barely deveoped IL below
the average OF that Of foreign torpedo boats OF
her class.
chief Engineer Roelker and Constructor Hans
sconn who were the trial. dissented from the
majority opinion that the Foote sue
cessful boat. They say she exceeded the contract
speed and was not pushed until the last part Of
the second run. though she carried $50 tons Of
surplus weight The delay In starting over the
course was caused by inferior coal and not
through any fault OF the boat The trial was
made on an extremely no; day. when even the
people on deck suffered from the heat and the
prostration Of the two In the engine rooms
was attributable TO leak OF steam which did not
in any way show the nefficlency OF the vessel
Altogether they say that torpedo boat has ever
been tried under such conditions Of tempera ture
and tha, the Foote will stand comparison with
foreign boats. Apparently the Navy Department
took the same view Of tho matter az did the MI
nority Of the Board. for the Foo:A mas been pro-
Wis