The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-15

b Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans. COM
mander-in-chief Of the Atlantic fleet, ir-
Titated by a criticism Of the navy and its
commanders in q recent publication, yes
terday declared that a definite scheme OF
battle tactics has been developed, besides
explaining the position of the United
States navy compared with that of sew
eral others.
In discussing the question. the rear ad-
miral said:
''The critics Of foreign naval powers al
ready are familiar with the details of
our naval construction. If we should per-
nit ourselves to be drawn into cOntro-
yersy over the details of our tactical de-
velopment they would soon be likewise
familiar with that. But since the criticism
implies that the Atlantic fleet IS being
neglected by some one. I viii say that.
from the commander-in-chief down to
the enlisted men, an effort has been
made and is being made, TO keep the
ships of the Atlantic feet up to the high
est standard of efficiency and ready at
any moment to defend the country.
The gentlemen who appear to have
misgivings on this score may sleep in
perfect peace. Battle plans have been
worked out in detail. Not only division
commanders OF the fleet but the cap
tains Of the ships are prepared 10 go to
sea and drill with any foreign feet, either
IN peace evolutions or war evolutions.
Ny own standard in such matters is
rather high. and I read with the utmost
attention and care the reports of the
maneuvers and drills of ali the navies
OF The world and. as far as I am able to
Judge. the work done by the Atlantic
feet compares favorably with that of any
other feet under any other flag"
Concerning Structural Defects.
The criticisms recently made by the
Navy on the structural defects of certain
American battle ships was another sub
ject on which the rear admiral consented
10 speak
He was asked, "Is the proportion of
battle ships with known structural de-
fects greater in the American navy than
In other navies?"
An answer to that question" he re-
Piled, can be found in statement re-
Gently made ia the British Parliament on
behalf Of the admiralty It was frankly
declared that only thirty-six battle ships
out OF a total of about seventy were con-
sidered able to go into the line of battle.
The remainder are TO be stricken from
the navy list. The proportion of obso-
lete battle ships in our navy is nothing
like that a greater percentage of our
ships than Of the British are considered
ready for the line Of battle. The same
holds good in the comparison with naval
powers other than Great Britain The
inference from this is that fewer mis-
takes have been made by our naval con-
structors than by those Of other navies.
Defects Realized by Service.
The defects Of large turret and broad
side gun ports on the Kearsarge and Ken
lucky were realized by the service before
these ships were completed. but the re-
newed criticism Of them tends to give
the impression that no Improvement has
been made. This is not true Line Off
GERS have been insistent in preventing
repetition Of such errors
Had It not been for Rear Admiral
Brownson. when a captain, the Alabama
would have the same large gun ports as
the Kentucky, but he represented the
danger OF this defect TO the Navy Depart
ment, There is no reason to doubt that
when the Kentucky and the Kearsage
are overhaulcd their defects will be
remedied.
There IS this TO be said. however. In
action the Kentucky and the Kearsarge
would have TO depend on their turret
guns entirely. They carry 5-inch broad
sides, which is the same calber as the
broadside battery Of the new Delaware
class. These guns are designed only 10
repel torpedo attacks, and. therefore. do
not need great protection Regarded from
this standpoint the large turret gun ports
constitute a very serious defect in these
ships, and no doubt, should have been
corrected before this. So far as 1 know
this 10 defect peculiar to the American
servioe, but If foreign critics are to be
believed. other navles have defects quite
as VITAL In other words, no one has vet
constructed the ideal battle ship"
Low WRterline ArmOr.
When his opinion was asked regarding
criticisms Of the low position of the water
line armor belt on the newly designed
battle ships OF the Delaware class, the
rear admiral said:
1t has been my endeavOr 10 bring the
wster-line aTmor belt up by Kidding the
Bhips Of unnecessary weights. A report
viii soon be made on this subject, but I
do not believe that the difference accom-
plshed by this method viii be equal TO
moro than that due to the use of one
days coal supply at full steaming. I
believe the water-line armor belt is
mistake in any ship. unless it is so placed
ns 10 give maximum protection possible
by water-line armor when in action. This
IS not possible when the water-line armor
belt IS submerged or nearly so.
II an an enemy OF 'soft-end' sbins II
is nay opinion that a ship should be pro-
tected all over, and for this reason 7
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el0.Co NiaSara Falls Excursion July 10
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