New-York tribune., 1908-03-12
PRAISES N4T4L GUNNERI
Commander Key Concludes Test'-
m0n1l-Dangerous Hosts.

v,-.tt--+o- Asrc, 11-vhen Commander A
/ Key former naval aid 70 the President re
sumed his testimony before the senate NaNal
Affairs Committee today, Chairman Hale eau
+iored him that he could proceed only under the
rules Of the committee. adding:
..You may make statements from Your own
knowledge and observation 1t - not part OF
the conditions laid down by this committee for
one witness TO take up the testimony of another
,.+,ass and criticise testimony he believes TO be
misleading
Commander Key agreed TO comply with this
ruling He then proceeded TO compare An1eri-
can ships constructed since 1899 with BRUSH
ships built IN the same period his Diagrams
tended TO show that American vessels are over
draft 20 greater degree than the Engllsh snlps
He agreed with Admiral Remey and captain "li'-
slow that ships should carry full bunkers OF coal
when thew 60 into action, and he said that not 70
10 co vvou1d he "preposterous" His observa-
tiong in regard 70 the draft OF vessels were Ihal
the decision of the Walker board OF May 10
1896 that "a battleship's normal draft shonio oe
her fighting draft, not her maximum draft with
full stores on board, mad oeeh oiSiee"' -
III. naval constructors.
How are we to remedy these alleged Viola
rions of the law asked Mr. Tfllrnan VINO ais"
wanted 10 know what guarantee Congress mas
that good lighting ships would be built win the
money appropriated. This led 70 a general dls-
c,ssion. and Commander Key suggested that me
general boards, which are not responsive u'oei
the law have too much authority TINS sIa'e
7Tenr vrovoked such difference OF oplIii"h 'i'-
C,ba3r,nan Hale steered the debate into other
channels -.
Commander Key explained in great detal ms
reasons for believing that it was not necessary 10
ax,a,d the arrnor belt more than five feet beio"
-1a actual" y1aterIine. and the advlsabih'y OF
having the remainder Of the arnor ABOVE '''e
v-a+arline He criticised a number Of the Amer
ran shfos on the ground that the IFee""ai" va
- 447,7a,- in heavy seas. the effect being that
- ,r checks We're so low that the big guns
Gould not he fred such seas lie l"uh" Aa'' =
also in the turrets and ammunition aolSts-
Commander Kew said that the American navy -
-7,, rrFv one in the world that has hung Oh 20 "
the Of hoist which does not isolate the har'o'-
room from the guns.
NJ TFIl7va,, was anxious to know VINO was ~
-.-,,,sflre for this fact and asked how long m
.ri~a,, navy rad persisted IL keeping this type
-, -.e.~s since the dangers Of this hoist be
came nositIvcIy known. said the witness In 'ha'
time H has cost fifteen lives.
-.-,i1 years repeated Nj Tiliman- That - one
---.r los rfau Nr Roosevelt has poem President
Ind ne carne from tho Navy Department '''i' u
s,-,r,osad 70 know about tRas" 5auiiS.
C,o,,r-ander he, said that the fifteen live Were
..---cc--a-iIz sacrificed h7I+ the chief ~ ord
nance has nov asked more than E-'s-h'--' IN
c7.5e- 20 correct the defects m the hotsts
j., concluding his testimony Tho commander paid
- -. rrt,rlte to the American navy. and espe-
..ir- -bc GUNNER. IT rue thing. 10 aid
that = Young man. green from farm IN the
-y--e, an ~ taken shin nov and drilled 81
.L- in three months he can max" hf VII" "i'
- -. h,r gum every forty seconds
The committee decided IN executive SESSION ho
l.- further testimony concerning tho CRITICISMS
.,.5e of structural matters. and - decide at an
-.,o~ meeting p-har other matters V- be taken 1T