The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1908-04-09
LEAK IN NAVY
DEPARTMENT
BOAT PROBE is FORGOTTEN IN
ADMISSIONS MADE nv
WITNESS.
RECEIVED PRIVATE REPORTS
Representative Of Lake Torpedo Boat
Co. Is Put Through Most Search
ing Examination by the
Committee.

Washington, April S.--The navy de-
partment and not the Electric Boat
Co. was virtually under investigation
Tuesday by the special house commit
tee fRquiring into the charges pand-
ing against that company by Repre-
sentative Lilley. Questions as 10
whether the company had authorized
illegitimate means to influence legis-
lation in ts favor was forgotten in
the admissions made by a witness to
the eject that he had secured extracts
of reports made to the navy depart
ment supposed to be confidential.
The witness was Robert G. Skier
rett OF New York, formerly employed
in the navy department and at one
time the European representative of
the Lake Torpedo Boat Co. He stated
frankly that while in the employ of
the Lake company he received anony-
mously extracts from reports made to
the navy department and that he used
these extracts in technical articles
prepared for publication in magazines.
used in Magazine Articles.
Questioned as to their sources, he
replied that he did not know from
from whom they came and that he
had accepted them as correct and used
them in his articles.
Mr.. Skerrett's sensational testi-
mony came when he was asked by
Chairman Boutell If he did not think
his action in using information Of the
government regarded as secret was
highly dishonorable. His reply was:
mo, think 1t indiscreet." 1t is the
evident intention of the cmmittee to
follow up this line of evidence and If
possible discover the leak in the navy
department
1t is doubtful If a witness before
theecommittee was ever put through
a more searching examination than
Mr. Skerrett.
The first report to which reference
was made was one prepared by Lieut..
Nelson, U. s. NJ, who conducted
series Of trials of the Holland boat at
Naragansett In 1904.
While abroad Mr.. Skerrett wrote an
article on submarines, in which he
quoted from Lieut.. Nelson's report.
Where did you get that report"
asked Mr.. Stephens.
Il do not remember" answered the
witness. Before / left Washington
went to my friends in the navy de-
partment and said to them: III there
Is anything you can give out at any
time of interest, send it along"
They knew that wsb writing on
naval topics"
Extracts frem Various RePorte.
Mr. Skerrett said that from time to
time, while he was in Berlin, he rs
ceived typewFitten extracts from vari-
oun naval reports These extracts
came 20 him in plain envelopes and
there was no writing on them to indi-
cate who had sent them. He had no
idea from whom they had come. They
were forwarded to him from Washing
ION, through the office of the Lake
company in Bridgeport.
An article the witness had writ
ten concerning certain details Of the
Holland boat was lext taken up.
Mr.. Littleton, tn Dugh the commit
tee, pressed the W, ness as to where
he got his information.
MIR. Skerrett said it had been given
him by a foreign officer. Pressed by
Mr.. Stephens to give the name Of this
official, Mr.. Skerr 1t said that his
memory WAS faulty in stating that he
had met him in 10 don. AS a matter
of fact he had received the informa.
ton while conyersing with naval Off
GERS at The Hague. He said that he
was there in the interest of the Lake
Boat Co. and, while discussing sub
marines with the general constructor
Of the Dutch navy whose name he did
not remember. and with Lieut.. Com
mander Bouduin and Lieut.. Roster,
the information was divulged.