Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-11
AsMOR 6EtT IMPROPERLY LOCATED
Key and Captain WInslow Very Severe
in Their Criticisms on the construc.
ton of Hattleships-key Wanted to
Go Further But Committee Would
Not Allow Him.
iBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, d. c.. March 10
That there are serious defects in the
construction of American battleships
was charged today by Captain c. McR
Winslow. assistant chief OF the bureau
OF navigation of the navy department,
and Commander a. H. Key. former
naval aid To President Roosevelt. Tho
former officer said the ships under
Admiral Evans were all over draft
when they left Hampton Roads. He
defended Admiral Rojeventsky for
no' rushing the Russian ships into the
battle with full coal bunkcrs. sayinr
the Russian commander could not do
otherwise seeing he did NOT know
how far he would be compelled 10
steam.
He criticised the armor belt and the
gun decks as being too low and the
ammunition holsts unsafe. He n,
tempted to dispute the testimony OF
other officers, especially Chief Con.
5tructor Caps, but was not permitted
TO do SO. Finally The committee went
into executive session ut which il was
decided that Key should he heard to.
morrow. but that his criticism should
be confined to ships Captain Wins-
low. who was the first witness IN de.
Tending the Russian admiral used the
fate OF the Russian fleet as an illus
tration 70 the danger OF going into ac
ton with the armor belt too far under
water
Al the same time he said the ships
should carry ut least two thirds their
capacity of coal and full ammunition
and stores. He said that two thirds
supply OF all stores would make all
American battleghps too low. and
therefore the armor belt should be
raised. He could not state the ex-
act amount. as he said 1t would vary
on different ships.
There was no need. said Captain
Winslow. for more than four feet of
armor below the waterline.
The witness was asked TO compare
certain types of American ships with
the contemporary class of British
ships. He took the Connecticut and
the Lord Nelson and in gunnery said
the British ship has made better re-
cords for rapid shooting with her bat
terry of % inch guns than has been
made with the Connecticut S inch
guns.
He thought this achievement was
due probably to the hoists.
Theoretically YOU would feel at 4
disadvantage If YOU were compelled
to take the Connecticut into action
against the Lord Nelson?r asked MIR.
Tillman.
Il would say the Lord Nelson is the
more powerful ship said the cap
tain.
lie added that the Michigan and The
South Carolina were great improve.
mcnt over the Lord Nelson ana pos
sibly superior to anything in the
British navy"
Ali Wrong, Says Winslow.
"On what ships now under Com
mand of Admiral Evans is the armor
belt misplaced?" asked Mr. Burrows.
All of them because it is too low"
Captain Winslow said that the ar
NOR belt extended five feet below
water on all OF the ships in Admiral
Evans fleet when it left Hampton
Roads, and most of them showed less
than foot of armor above the water
line
He said that with two thirds supply
VI codi ana TWO thirds of all other
stores on board. the armor lei; of
all the American battleships would he
too far below the watcrline.
This would be the condition in
which the ships would go into battle "
he said.
In reply to questions by MIR. Till
man. the witness said he had never
written the department concerning
the defects he had found in battleship
construction but that he knew The
faults had been pointed ont by other
officers. AS to the ammunition hoists
Captain Winslow said that It was not n
question of direct hoists as against
two-staee hoists. but entirely oues.
ton of safety.
well have we got it?" asked Mr..
Tilman
The witness replied that we had not
rad safety In The past but that he WAC
not familiar with the new direct hoist
with automatic shutters.
Captain Winslow gave his exper.