The Washington times., 1905-08-07
GUN SIGHT CASE
MAY Be PROBEO
Captain Pendlet0n Promises
to Look Into Charges.
DECIDES THIS AFTERNOON
IntimGted That the Men Who Wrote
Anonymous Note Are Known to
the Superintendent.
DECIDES THIS AFTERNOON

Captain Pendletoh commandment of
the Washington navy yard and super
intendent OF the naval sun factory said
TO q reporter for The Times that II
there is anything wrong at the yard or
IL the gun factory he wants TO know il.
He did not promise 10 institute a for
NAL investigation into the charges that
defective sights were placed on the
guns of the big battleshlp Colorado, but
announced that ne would send for the
men who are believed 10 know all about
the matter, and hear their story.
Their names were furnished the super
intendent. and IL Is expected that he will
have a talk with them this afternoon.
Then II is UP to the superintendent 10
decide whether there shall be an OF
ficiaI investigation or not. According
to the ethics of the Navy Department,
as expressed by the assistant Secretary
Mr. Darling, complaints must reach the
head Of the department in the regular
way. Thus, If there is an investigation
of the charges Of defective sights the
charges must go from Superintendent
Pendleton 10 Admiral Mason. chief OF
the ordnance bureau. and from him TO
the Secretary OF the Navy.
Is Optimistic.
Captain Pendleton does not think there
is anything wrong with the sights be
cause the work of inspection was Of
such a cha racter that any attempt to
hide or cover up an error would be
caught Changes. ne said. were con
stantly being made, and the officers in
charge knew Of every change. The cap
tain said he never paid attention to
ANONYMOUS charges but that II any OF
the men in the yard knew of anything
wrong and would report it TO the proper
officer it would be looked into
The machinists wEo are familiar with
the work on the sights for the guns Of
the Colorado says that IF the change
on the sights was ordered, il does not
appear on the drawing. And all changes
which are authorized must show in the
drawing, they say. What the men IN
the gunsighting shop want. said ma
chinist today. is an investigation order
ed by the Secretary of the Navy They
will BE- satisfied WiCh nothing less
Admiral Mason Silent.
admiral Mason, chief of the Bureau
OF Ordnance, today declined 10 talk
about the statement of the machinisLs
at the Washington navy yard who al
lege Irregular procedure in the equip
ment of the baueshlp Colorado with de-
fecUive sights manufactured at the gun
factory
is 70 be considered, say The officials
OF the Bureau Of Ordnance, IL should be
made 70 the superintendent of the gun
factory or 10 any one OF the many
lieutenants and inspectors who are in
charge Of this particular work at the
gun factory, Admiral Mason said that
he did not care To pay any attention
10 anonymous charges.
Officials OF the department seem to
think that the complaint Of the under
mHchiHists is due to u personal spite
against their immediate sUperiors.
1t is pointed our workmen a the navy
yard have never been backward hereto
fore in bringing complaints before the
commandment Of the yard. The view Of
the Nav Department officials is that
supervision Of the work at the gun fac
tory by Inspectors and officers Of the
bureau OF ordnance is so strict that II
is practically impossible for q blundet'
10 be made and NOT discovered. Besides.
sag these officials, what advantage could
the man in charge of the work have
, III covering up his mistake. as IL would
certainly be discovered when the bat
tleSnip began TARGET practice. and this
1 always follows after the ships have been
equipped with new guns and sights.
Some Changes Made
1t is admitted that frequent changes
are made in the style of the sights
placed on the guns. bat this, it is said.
is in line with the actual course OF i'm
provements practiced at the gun factory,
where special officers are constantly
kept on duty experimenting with a view
10 henenting the service.
These particular sights on the Colo
RADIO. II was said by Il high officer OF
the dc partment. had been subjected 10
the closest inspection by an officer rep
/ reseating the department.
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