Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-17
.B5a

E. WASHINGTON, ID. c. July 1G.-
Rear Admiral Robicy -. Evans. Com
mnnder-imChicf oil the Atlantic fleet
made reply to 1t recent publication
which conveyed an Implied criticism
of the efficiency OF his command by
declaring that the country's peace OF
mind required some Official statement
that II definite scheme of battle tao.
ties has been developed. When Rear
Admiral Evans attention was called
TO this matter hc said.
"'rhe critics of foreign naval powers
already are familiar with the details
OF our naval construction. Ii we
should permit ourselves to be drawn
into controversy over The details of
our tnctical development they would
soon he likewise familiar with that.
But since the criticism implies that
tho Atlantic fleet IS being neglected
ny some one, ! win say that from the
COMMUNICATIVE Chief down To the on.
listed men an effort has been and IS
being made to keep the ships of the
Atlantic fleet up TO the highest STAN
dard OF efficiency and ready ut amy
moment 10 defend the country. Any
effort TO give to the country amy 9th
or impression Is unjust, injurious aud
UiiNNbitN lpis
"rhe gentlemen who appear to
have misgvings on this score may
sleep in perfect peace Baltic plans
have becn worked out in detail Not
only tho division commanders of the
fleet, but the captains OF the ships arc
prepared to so to sea and drill with
amy foreign ilcet either in peace cvo.
lutiOns or war ovulntiOns. My own
standard in such matters is rather
high, and | read with the utmost mt
tcntion and care the reports of tho
m,noeuvrcs ANA drills of all the ma
vies OF the world. AS far as | am
.uble to. judge the work done by the
American fleet, nll things considered,
compares tnvorably with that of any
other fleet under amy other flag. llav-
ing made this statement, | decline to
ne drawn into amy controversy tend
Ing 10 disclose the details of our
plans
Answers "The Navy" Criticism.
Rear Admiral Evans also consent
cd to speak regarding the sweeping
criticisms recently made by "Tho
Navy of the structural defects OF
certain American battle ships The
Rear Admirars objection to these crit
icisms rested not against the recita-
tion of certain faults which have been
known and dcporcd in the service for
years. hut against the Inference that
this proves that American ships us n
GLASS are inefficient and that naval
hlficcrs have only recently discover
cd Ii by comparison with other navics
lis the proportion OF battle ships
with known structural defects greater
in the American navy than in other
navics?' Rear Admiral Evans was
asked
AN answer TO that question" he
replied "can he found In the state
nent made In the British Parliament
recently i'll behalf of the Admiralty.
The question of maintenance of the
british fleet upon the theory that ii
should lfe equal TO the combined pow
CT of any two navlcs was under con
sidcration II was frankly declared
for the Admiralty that only thirty SIX
battle ships out of total of about
seventy We're considered able to 70
into tho line of battle. The remain
S der are 10 he stricken from the navy
list, sold, used as receiving ships or
placed in reserve.
"'l'he proportion OF obsolete battle
ships in our navy is nothing like that.
"A greater percentage of our ships than
OF the British may be considered
ready for the line OF battle. The same
holds good in comparison of our ships
with naval Powers other than Great
Britain. The Inference from this is
ina fewer mistakes have been made
ON our naval constructors than by
those of other navies
Service Knew Defects.
"rhc defects of large turrct and
broad side gun ports ON the Kcarsargc
and Kentucky were realized by the
service before these ships were com.
pleted. but The renewed criticism of
them tends 10 give the Impression that