Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-06
Secretary Long on the Proposed Pur-
chase of the Holland.
DEFENDS TEE CONSTRUCTION BOARD
Says That It's Members AreLookinp
After the Government s,lnterests.
TaEDEPARTMENT's ATTITUDE

secretary Long expiains the position of
the Navy Department with regard to the
| controversy over the proposed purchase Of
the submarine torpedo boat Holland in the
following letter addressed to a correspond
! ent who asked for information on the sub
ject: --f
Il have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter Of the 25th instant,
relative to the report of the board on con-
struction and the proposal of the Holland
Torpedo Boat Company to sell to the gov
eminent its submarine torpedo boat Hol-
land and build for 1t another vessel of
similar type, or to construct two such new
boats.
I'm reply have to state that the de-
partment has given and will continue to
give the matter careful attention, feeling
that. although this sort of vessel is still
In experimental stage. 1t is entitled, in the
interest of naval construction and enter
prise, to thorough consideration. Indeed
the department made a contract with the
Holland company as long ago as March
u, 1895, for the construction of one of
has not yet been finished, although the
time for its completion expired several
years ago.
Trials of the Holland.
During the Spanish-American war the
department had an examinati ton made of
the Holland, and, after correspondence with
the company, complied with its request in a
letter to 1t, dated May 8, 1898, to order a
board to witness a trial Of that boat In
accordance with the recommendation of
the board on construction certain require
ments were named which the boat ought
to fulfill. It was found, however that this
trial could not be made by the company
as soon expected, and, under date of
June Is, 1898, the requirements aforesaid
were somewhat modified, set forth in a
letter to the company Of that date in
which was embodied the following clause,
to wit:
1t is to be distinctly understood, how
ever. that the department is to be at no
expense on account of said tests aside from
furnishing the Whitehead torpedo for use
during the same, nor does the department,
by consenting to witness such further tests,
in any way commit itself as to it's future
action concerning the Holland subma rine
boat
"The board selected by the department
was the board Of inspection and survey.
The trial was made November 12 1898. The
boat was then found deficient in several re-
spects. After correspondence with the
company t was decided that the board
should witness a further trial, and this.
after several poStponementS, was made No
Nember 6, 1899. 1t was then found that
the boat made a very creditable showing
and, under date of the 23d of that month
the company submitted its proposal above
mentioned.
heeAtuuS VI the bOdFu
You are in error in the impression that
the members of the board on const ruction.
to which this whole matter was referred
and no more competent board could be Sc
lected-are hostile to the ADOPTION of anv
form of submarine boat for the naval serv-
ice L am sure that with better knowl-
edge of them and of their faithful dis
charge of any duty assigned them, you
will gladly recall your suggestion that they
have male an unfair and unjust report
Ihey are cautious not to recommend haste
in this matter until the interests of the
government are properly guarded by Sc
curing the best practicable development
The report of the majority of the board,
Which is less favorable to the company
than that of the chief constructor.
simply recommends that no further con-
tract be made until the company shall
have made some satisfactory settlement
concerning the delivery of the submarine
boat Plunger. above referred to, the con-
tract for which required its completion
within twelve months from March u, 1895
nder that contract the sum of 500, 1850
mas already been paid The majority report
suggests that when the Plunger matter
shall have been satisfactorily adjusted it
VIII be time enough to consider the COM
pany present proposal, and that in case
of such adjustment the department will be
justified, if the law permits, in making
contract under proper guarantees and
specifications. for one vessel of the larger
'i1c oiLeiei ny lHe company, ana IN tnuS
aiding in the development of the submarine
boats.
The Question Raised by the Board.
1.-The question raised by the board is
simply one as to the wisdom of making
contracts for more than one of these boats
under present circumstances. In this con-
nection 1t should be borne In mind as APP
pears from the above quoted extract from
the departments letter of June IS, 1898
that the requirements suggested by the de-
partment for fulfillment by the Holland
We're not of the nature of an agreement to
accept her II she should meet them, and
that, therefore the government is not only
under no obligation to buy her because of
her performance OF them, but is not in any
way committed to such an obligation.
THE majority of the board on construc-
ton purposely refrained from any criticism
or discussion of the merits Of the Holland
or of the possibilities Of subma rine boats in
general; but it is difficult to escape their
conclusion that it would not be a profitable
business transaction to buy the Holland at
the same price, $40 600 for which the com
pany offers to build new and larger boats
In view of the matters herein set forth
am convinced that you will see that the
actlon OF the board on construction has
been Inexperienced by you, and that the
interests OF the Holland Torpedo Boat Com
concentrations. The department by no
means regards the matter as concluded, but
noldS 1t in allegiance for the present de-
string additional light. 1t is possible that
this may be derived from the further tests
which. 1t is reported, are to be made of the
Holland in this city at an early date.
Very respectfully.
(signed) JOHN D. LONG,
% Secretary