The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-11


/ committee held an executive session
at which it was decided that Ike,
should be heard Tomorrow, but tina
his criticism should be confined t.
ships.
!irmor Belt Too Low.
Captain Winslow. who was the first
witness, in defending the Russian ad-
miral. used the fate of the Russian
fleet as an illustration of the danger
of going into action with the armor
belt too far under water. At the same
time, he said that the ships Should
carry at least two-thirds their capacity
of coal and full ammunition and stores.
lie said that two-thirds supply of all
stores would make all American bat
tleships too low, and therefore the ar
NOR belt should be raised. He could not
state the exact amount, as he said 1t
would vary on the different ships.
There was no Needs said Captain
Wlnsow, for more than four feet or
armor belt below the water line. The
witness was asked to compare certain
types Of American ships with the coii-
temporary class of British ships. He
took the Connecticut and the Lord Nell
son, and in gunnery said the British
ship has made better records for rapid
shooting with her battery of 9.2-inch
guns than had been made with the
Connecticut's S-inch guns. He though,
this achievement was due probably to
the hotsts.
Theoretically you would feel at q
disadvantage If you were compelled to
take the Connecticut into action
against the Lord Nelson?" asked Mr..
Tillman.
~ would say the Lord Nelson is the
more powerful ship said the cap
tain. He added that the Michigan and
the South Carolina We're great i'm
provement over the Lord Nelson. and
possibly superior to anything in the
British Navy"
"On what ships now under command
of Admiral Evans is the armor belt
asked Mr.. Burrows.
"All of them. because it is too low"
Captain winslow said that the ar
NOR belt extended five feet below wa
ter on all Of the ships in Admiral
Evanss fleet when 1T left Hampton
Roads, and most of them showed less
than a foot of armor above the water
line. He said that with two-thirds
supply of coal and two-thirds of all
other stores on board Che armor bolt
Of all the American battleships would
be too far below the waterline. '"This
WOuiN De lilc III WHICH lle
ships would go into battle" he said
Had Expected Such Accidents.
Captain Winslow gave his expert.
inquired into the causes of the ex-
plosion on the Massachusetts, In 1903,
finding that the damage was due to
The open turret and the Ineffective
less of the direct hoist. Naval officers
had predicted that just such accidents
would occur and the fault should have
;oen corrected then said Captain
IYinslow.
what officer had pointed out the
langer?" asked Mr.. Tillman.
I'm 1902 l received a personal letter
rom Commander Sims criticizing the
<earsarge and the Kentucky, and say
ng that there was great danger in |
The turret," replied Captain Winslow,
de added that this information had
been given to the department. He
said he did not know where to fix
he responsibility for the failure to
correct the fault unless 1t was in
he fact that there was constant change
n the department through frequently
hitting civilian secretaries.
Tests Are Deceptive.
Commander A. L. Key, formerly ma
al aid to the President, was the next
witness. He had an experience SINH
ar to that of Commander Sims, the
'resent naval executive, that he was
Tot permitted to follow his own In
lination as to the form Of presenting
rs views. He began by stating that
e had a duty to perform not entirely
sreeable. as his testimony would not
@ approved at the Navy Department
lie said ne expected to show by COM
'arison that there were defects in
american ships as to the location OF
he armor belt, the height OF free
oard and the character Of ammuni-
ion hoists, and that he would be COM
elled to point out inaccuracies In the
estimony of Rear Admiral Capps,
hief constructor, and some other off,
ers who have been before the COM
nittee.
Chairman Hale cautioned the witness
o follow the lines that had been laid
!own by the committee.
Commander Key took up the subject
# armor belts, He said that the belts
hould not be placed around fictitious
rater line, but should be located with
ogard 70 the actual line when a yes.
el Is equipped for action. He crlti-
lied the speed tests of battleships,
md declared that the vessels run so
light that the test Is OF no value in
lscertaining actual speed of vessel
When carrying full armament. crew
md stores.
why should contractors be permitted
o bamboozle the country with these
fictitious speed tests7" asked Mr.. TILL
mar.
They should not. That's what I
awe been trying to correct" replied
The witness, He then presented a