The Washington herald., 1908-03-05

American methods OF naval construction
were stoutly defended before the Senate
Committee on Naval Affairs yesterday by
Rear Admiral W s. Cowles, brother-in-
law Of President Roosevelt. and Lieut.
Commander Cleland Davis Cowles was
formerly chief Of the Bureau of Equip
ment.
Rear Admiral COwles IS also a member
Of the Bureau of Construction. He gave
a graphic description to the members of
the committee of the disaster on the bat
tie ship Missouri. which occurred while
the vessel under HIS command. was at
target practice or Jacksonville, Fla The
responsibility for the accident had never
been fxed absolutely. but he said # was
now generally believed that the cause
was a flare back" The gas-expelling
device which was adopted by the navy
shortly after the accident on the Mis-
souri,. and as result of it. had lessened.
II It had not actually removed. the posi-
'billty OF a flare back
The admiral defended rapidity Of firing
as necessary, but admitted that danger
increased proporticnateiy. incident to the
risk that is always incurred in handling
powder.
shutters Give Ample Protection.
''I believe the late precautions. such as
the shutter. have given ample protection
in the use of direct ammunition hoists,"
said the admiral
Chairman Hale made another reference
10 what ne has often characterized here
tofore as ''the mania for rapid firing"
4 do not believe that the interrupted
hoist is an improvement ore. present ron-
ditions,'' said Admiral Ccwies. THE eIe-
mentary danger is just as great
He denied that Tie board OF constrnc-
ton, OF which he IS a member. discou--
aged or repelled suggestions from de-
signers. He believed suggestions for i'm
provement in the navy were always well
coined
He concurred with the view Of Rear
Admirals Converse and Capps as to the
location of the armor belt He called the
attention OF the committee 10 the fact
that If the belt were wjdened a foot, as
had been suggested, II would be neces-
sary 10 sacrifice weight amounting 10
four twelve-inch guns.
Capps VIII Give Figures.
Rear Admiral Capps made the interest
ing disclosure 10 the committee that he
had prepared and was ready 10 submit
official reports from the Norfolk Navy
Yard as 10 the exact depth OF every YES
sci in the Atlantic fleet at the time ii
left Hampton Roads for the Pacific This
had been accurately taken. and when
considered along with the reduction In
stores. ammunition and coal would show
a correct computation from day to day
as TO the exact position OF the vessel in
thu water.
when this statement is submitted to
the committee later, as il Will be. II will
prove the unreIiability Of the official log"
said Admiral Capps, who added the sug-
gestion that Commander Sims and Lieut..
Commander Hill had gotten their infor-
nation from the log and other unreliable
sources.
Prefers the Direct Hoist.
Lieut. Commander CIeland Davis. the
second witness Of the day. defended the
direct hoist and announced that II he
were commanding a ship in action he
would remove the shutters TO allow free
action and communication. He defended
the present methods OF turret construc-
ton so ably that Chairman Hale ad-
mitted he had become very much con-
fused in his own mind as TO which de-
vice was the better. Mr.. TiIman sug-
gested that Lieut.. Commander Davis had
not stated that the direct ammunition
hoist was the better
Il do think it is the better" promptly
replied that officer.