The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-12
FORMER NAVAL
AIDE TESTIFIES
Senate Committee Hears More
About Defects in the
WarShips.
USELESS WASTE OF LIFE
INTERESTING COMMENT MADE
BY Mr.. TILLMAN.

Washington, March 11-Commander
A. L. Key. former naval aide TO the
president. resumed his testimony be-
fore the senate naval affairs commit
tee today. He proceeded to compare
American ships constructed since 1899
with British ships built In the same
period, His diagrams tended TO show
that American vessels are OveTdraft TO
a greater degree than the English
ships He agreed with Admiral Remey
and Captain Winslow that ships should
carry full bunkers of coal when they
go into action. and he said not to do
so would be 'preposterous."
His observations in regard to the
draft of vessels were that the direction
of the Walker board of May IS, 1895,
that "a battleship's normal draft
should be her fighting draft. not her
maximum draft. with full stores on
board had been disregarded by the
naval constructors.
Naval Aides Duties.
You were naval aide TO the presi-
dent: what were your duties?" asked
Mr.. Tillman.
Chiefly to attend functions at the
White house" the commander began,
but he was interrupted by Mr.. Tillman,
who said
In uniform, Just as an ornament"
"Oh. no. sir. not at all the witness
replied.
"The naval aide is 10 go with the
president on trips TO visit ships or on
voyages. He is a sort of an attend
ant"
Mr. Martin wanted to know if the
aide is not expected to advise the pres
ident in regard to the naval program
and other matters.
IF the president had a young officer
in that capacity his advice would be
resented by other officers. ! think,
said the commander.
Chairman Hale questioned Comman-
der Key about the work he had done
while naval aide to tire president in
endeavoring to promote the chances for
naval personnel legislation.
My efforts we're purely personal
and had no connection with my duties
at the White house" the commander
FASTENED to say.
DO not think that. being an aide to
the president. 1 had lost my personal
independence"
But you do not think such duty les
sened your influence asked Mr..
Hale
my work was entirely with officers
and not with congressman" the wit
ness replied.
senator Tillman called attention to
the campaign conducted by midship-
men for the personnel bill. and Com
mander Key said he knew he had been
charged with having instisated that
campaign. but that il was untrue. He
denied all responsibility
Gave His Reasons.
The witness explained in great de-
tail his reasons for. believing that 1t
was not necessary to extend the armor
belt more than five feet below the "ac-
tual water line" He criticised a num-
Der of the American ships on the
ground that the free board was in
sufficient in heavy seas. the effect be-
ing that the gun checks were so low
that the big guns could not be fired in
such seas. He found flaws also in the
turrets and ammunition hoists. Com
mander Key said that the American
navy is the only one in the world that
has hung on to a type of hOists which
does not isolate the handling room
from the guns.
DIR Tinman was anxious to know
VINO was responsible for this fact and
asked how long the American navy
has persisted in keeping this type.
six years since the dangers of this
hoist became positively known" said
the witness. In that time it has cost
fifteen lives"
six years" repeated Mr. Tillman.
that is one year less than Roosevelt
has been president and he came from
the navy department and is supposed
10 know about these faults"
Commander Key said that the fifteen
lives were unnecessarily sacrificed. %
but that the chief of ordnance has
now asked for more than 81 600 0OG in
order to correct the defects in the
hoists.
In concluding his testimony, the
commander paid great tribute to the
American navy and especially the gun
merry.
1T is a fine thing" he said that a
young man. green from farm in the
west, can be taken on ship now and
drilled SO that in three months he can
make hit with one of the big guns
every forty seconds.