The times., 1899-02-04
PICKWICKIAN EXPLANATION.
WOodfOrd Was Mixed and Critics.
ed. Meaning to Prnise.

New York, Feb. 3.-The following letter
to Secretary of the Navy Long, written by
the Hon. Stewart L. Woodford, is made
public by consent of Secretary Long:
January 81.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
This morning on reaching my law Of
flee l got your letter saying that you find
that the papers attribute 10 me certain
statements with regard to the supply of
ammunition in the navy during the war
which are so erroneous that you cannot
believe that | have been correctly report
ed. You add that you have asked the Bu-
reau of Ordnance to give you the exact
facts and you enclose copy of its state
ments.
The remarks attributed to me by news
papers refer to a talk which l made before
the members of the Army and Navy Club
last Saturday evening, January 90, at their
clubhouse. The meeting was OF club men,
bers and their guests. 1t was not n public
meeting but gathering OF clubmen and
their friends. / had been assured that no
reporters would be present and | did not
see any person taking notes. The COM
mittee of the club tell me that no re-
porters were invited and that they did not
see any person there taking notes. Ger
tainly there were none near me. But this
would not excuse any inaccuracy in my
statements. while it may explain possible
inaccuracy in the reports which may have
been written out by the newspaper re-
porters from hearsay or poor memories. In
the published remarks find that am re-
ported as saying that on February Is there
were not on American ships or in the
ordnance depots in the United States two
rounds of powder per gun at that time.
What ! intended 10 say was that | had
ipf raIr !,
on the 18th OF February of that year there
were not more than two rounds of am
munition per gun and per man in the ord
nance depots and arsenals of the United
States. and that / did not believe then that
we were ready for offensive operations or
could be before the 18th OF April. That
this was not true with regard to the navy
is the boast Of that department and the
pride of all our people. II ! conveyed any
other idea in my remarks 10 the Army and
Navy Club | regret it. There were earnest
friends Of the navy present and all seemed
to approve and none then criticised.
My remarks with regard to the ship
ment of ammunition across the continent
to San Francisco and thence 10 Honolulu
and Hongkong by the United States steam
er Baltimore, related TO the reserve sup
! plies OF ammunition, in regard to which
your letter TO me of October 80 last says
IL is true ildt quantity OF dHlfnunl-
| tion was sent by rail to California, thence
by the Mohcan to the Sandwich Islands,
where it was transferred TO the Baltimore
and by that vessel taken TO Hongkong,
arriving there on April %. three days be-
fore the sailing Of the fleet TO Mrs Bay
| You added TO that letter that the Bureau
Of Ordnance had advised you that Admiral
| Dewey had on hand before the arrival OF
| the Baltimore sufficient ammunition for his
| immediate needs, of which only 80 per
| cent was used during the battle of Manila
| Bay. | ventured the statement with regard
! TO the ammunition train across the conti-
nent because it seemed 10 me demonstra-
tive of the marvellous foresight of youI
| department and of the energy of the Ord
| nance Department that the reserve am
munition required by Admiral Dewey fol
! all the possible contingencies of his service
in the Philippines should have been sent
so promptly and have reached Hongkonl
so opportunely on the I'D of April, three
days before Dewey sailed for Mrs Bay
and Manila.
Il meant no criticism on Captain O'Nei
nor the Ordnance Bureau. nor the navy
but said what / did in intentional ant
hearty praise of yourself and your de,
partment. Very truly, yours.
''STEWARr l.. WOODFORD,
The Hon. John d. Long, Secretary o
the Navy