The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-15
WORSE REPORT ON THE MAINE
TURRET SUPPORTS WEAK; BOIL
Frs UNSATISFACTORY.
Defects Regarded a. q Consequence OF
Great Advance In Power 81 Naval
Rires-CaIcuIations Must he Revised
Other Shipa Win he Affected.

Other shIps VIII he Affected.
WASHINGTON. April A.-Capt. Eugene
II. Ieutze Of the new battleship Maine
came to Washington to-day from Newport
News and gave the Navy Department off,
cials their first detailed information about
the condition Of his vessel. which developed
defects during her shaking down" cruise
in the West Indies.
While Capt. Leutze contradicted the re-
port that the Maine was structurally weak.
his statement showed that the battleship
was in worse condition than had been sup
posed from the Official information that had
been received.
Not only are the supports and emplace-
ments OF her 8-inch guns weak, but the
structures Of her turrets are entirely in
adequate to bear the strain OF firing the big
turret guns.
In addition TO this disquieting news the
Department learned from Capt Leutze
that the boilers Of the Maine had proved
to be decidedly unsatisfactory.
There was a disposition on the part OF
naval officials at first to make II appear
that Capt. Leutze had explained that the
defects in the Maine were not at all serious.
but Secretary Moody decided that frank
ness was the beat policy and directed Rear
Admiral Bowlee the Chief Navsi Const ructor.
to make a statement for the benefit of the
public as to the vessels condition. This
Is the statement:
The officers who have examined the turrets
Of the Maine have found that the damage
done consists largely Of the loosenng w
circular structure underneath the rollers
and paths on which the turret IL supported,
a m so sha
roller paths are Of the usual construction.
being built up Of plates and angles,
however the use Of smckeless powder with
higher pressure ., guns has been adopted
and the recoil. allowed have been ZEN shortened
strain on the supporting structure which in
We're s i nc not for The great weight of the
revolving part of the turret. amounting to
over four hundred tons; the fitting Of the
has been decided to he necessary would not
be very elaborate work. but owing to the
be supported and the inaccessibiliiy Of the
parts ii is anticipated that the repairs will
take some little time
ity OF certain 8-inch guns, due to the same
general cause. are much less important and
'a The ee csiei CemStp"ctor considers that no
blame can be attached to the contractors
for the Maine. az there was no evidence what
ever Of defective workmanship.
No official statement was issued concern
ing the defects In the boilers, but these
were otherwise described az due to the
collection Of waste material in two tubes at
points 20 situated as to prevent the steam
from being generated, thus causing the
burning out OF the tubes. and on account
of the construction OF tho boilers making
It extremely difficult 10 overcome tho
The Msines beiers an. OF the Niclausss
IA under cons,dsmtion the sWsrdinS 81
contracts for building the arnored cruisers
Washin gton and Tennessee q strong effort
was made TO cause Q chan g In the require
ment that Baboook 4 Wilcox boilers be used.
and the substitution OF boilers OF the Nj
clause type.
This proposal was fought strenuously by
Rear Admiral Melville, chief Of the Bureau
OF Steam Enginee ring, on the ground that
the Niclausse boilers had not proved
:atisiact9ry ne sseyted that M they Msrs
and that those OF the Niclausse type on
the Russian cruiser Varia9, built in the
United States. had proved entirely in
adequate.
The matter OF replacing the Names
boilers. a very expensive work. has not been
considered by the Department An addi-
tional appropriation by Congress would
probably be necessary. The indications
are that the Niclausse boilers will be re-
tanned.
The plans Of four other naval vessels
provide for the installation Of Niclausse
boilers in them. These are the battleships
Georgia and Virginia and the armored
cruisers Pennsylvania and Colorado. The |
boilers have already been installed on the |
two armored cruisers. Before the boilers |
are put in the Georgia and the Virginia, |
the Navy Department will give careful |
consideration to the question.
Naval Constructors Taylor and Smith |
are examining the Maine. 10 determine |
the exact character OF the defects in the |
supports OF the turrets and 6-inch guns and |
the amount OF damage done.
As Indicated by Admiral Bowles's state |
ment William Crsmp q Sons OF Philadelphia, |
who built the Maine, have been acquitted |
Of responsibility for the defects. These are |
rega rded as ms tural consequence OF the |
greet advance in the power OF naval rifles.
As the strength and resistance of the gun !
supports of most OF the srrnored vessels |
under construction were On lcula ted similarly |
to the co EQUATIONS made for the Names |
gun supports. II will probably he necesss ~ i
TO strengthen the empla dement's Of the |
turret guns and other high-powered rifles |
on these vessels
To do this will require ltera tons in plans, |
some expense and perhaps loss o! time.