The Washington herald., 1908-03-01

Commander William s Sims. naval aid
to President Roosevelt. and inspector Of
! target practice for the Navy Department
yesterday before the Senate Committee
on Naval Affairs took the blame for the
criticisms Of the navy that have been
promulgated from various sources Of late.
1t has been commonly understood thar
upon Commander sims. more than
any other naval oficer. possibly the re-
sponsibility for furnishing information
for the Henry Reuterdahl article has been
placed. The similarity between the much
discussed Reuterdahl article and the Off
cial reports Of Commander Sims TO the
Navy Department have been much COM
mented upon in naval circles.
I Although the commander did not testify
yesterday before the Senate committee.
he made brief statement in which
he asserted his own participation in
I the criticisms OF the navy. He viii 20
upon the stand tomorrow. It is expected
that he VIII be subjected TO some red-hor
cross-examination.
Truth in Article.
The testimony Of other officers given
yesterday. showed that while the Reuter-
| dahl article may not be esteemed by
naval experts TO be correct in ali de-
tails, Il IS nevertheless considered BY
some experts 20 be not greatly over
drawn in many particulars
BY the testimony OF one Officer. Lieut..
Commander HAL the committee found
that there Is a belief IN some quarters
that not only IS the armor belt Of our
/ battle ships too low, but that the speed
Of these same ships Is never. after the
trial trips. up 70 the required number
of knots
( FErther testimony was addUced from
various Witnesses TO the effect that the
form of turret construction now proya-
I lent IN the Arastican navy Is not ar
( 81 90 the credit ee modern ration.
/ In fact one officer. Lieut.. Commander
| Carl T. Vegelgesang. made serious refec-
tions on our methods Of turret construo-
tiou- Commander YogelgesanE also criti-
/ cised sharply the character OF ammuni-
tion hoists used in the navy
1 In regard 70 hoist conditions. the con-
mander said that there is not only great
danger from a bareback. but from the
bursting Of shell fred by an enemy
over the turret- Either, ne said. might
/ ignite the powder charge and communi-
cate 10 the handling room. as had hap
/ pened in the case Of the MissoAri
fore the committee yesterday. Senator
! Tillman explained that Capt. Bradley A.
Fiske. Of the navy. was present, and. as
his wife WAS i'll in New York, he was
anxious to be examined and hurry 10
her bedside. Mr.. THlmaa asked that Capt.
Fiske be heard AT once. and 10 this Com
mander Sims assented, but before leaving
the room began an explanation which
plainly rufied the feelings Of some men,
5ers OF the committee
Is Cause Of Trouble.
7 am the cause OF all this trouble
said Commander sims: and he went on
TO explain that his criticisms Of naval
iconstruction had been begun ten or tvelv,
years ago. and that rs he wanted to ge
into the matter thoroughly he hoped the.
committee would not interrupt his state
ments with "cross-examination.
Chairman Hale's interest grew percepti-
bly, as Commander Sims proceeded. Com
mander Sims suggested that the commit
tee could get through with Capt. Fiske
this afternoon and that he Sins pre-
ferred TO give his testimony on Monday
morning.
Then you have decided that the com
mittee can get through with Capt Fiske
this afternoon inquired Mr.. Hale.
Yes replied Commander Sims. show
ing some surprise.
You have decided the matter for the
COMMITTEES" persisted Mr. Hale. Turning
aside to his colleagues. Mr.. Hale remark
ed. AS Sims is so fun Of his subject. IL
would hardly be safe to start him this
afternoon" When Commander Sims
realized that he was the object OF Mr.
HaleS irony. members OF the committee
were laughing. Finally he said. IN
fgo. then. if the committee does not need
me"
No answer came from Mr.. Hale. The
Presidents aid repeated his statement
about going
the committee will decide for you" said
Senator Hale sharply.
Senator Hale said that he expects that
testimony TO be illuminating"
Lieut. Commander Hill was called be
fore the committee as an expert on the
armor belt and water line question. He
condemned the present plan Of construc-
tion. and declared that the arrnor belt
was too low. he was questioned sharply.
, as were other witnesses, by Rear Admiral
Washington Lee Capps. chief naval con
structor, and several sharp coiloquies
resulted
Creates "A Sensation.
Lieut.. Commander Carl 7. vogelgesanz.
commander Of the Presidents yacht Nav
flower. an expert on turret construction.
created something Of q sensation by his
criticism Of the present policy. Cant.
Fiske was not severe. Confronted with
an article he had written for the United
States Naval Institute. he declared that
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