Omaha daily bee., 1908-02-26
DEFENSE OF NAVY
Experts in Construction Appear
Before Senate Committee.
ANSWER TO MAGAZINE ARTICLE
Criticism Of Reuterdahl Based on
Reports of Naval officers.
WRITER DESIGN TROPHIES
Had Opportunities III 'ss with
Men Making II
TESTIMONY OFADMRAl ~ AsE
Lieutenant Commander =,
sims Are Asked ny secrt
MetcaIf 20 Explain Cer-D
tain Incidents.
Criticism Of Reuterdahl Based on
Reports of Naval officers.
TESTIMONY oFADMRAl .

WASHINGTON. Feb. 25.-The experts in
naval construction Rear Admiral Converse,
retired, president Of the board of construc-
tion. and Rear Admiral Capps. chief of the
bureau Of construction and repair, were
before the senate committee on naval af-
fairs today In the investigation of charges
against the navy made by Henry Reuter-
dahl in a recent magazine article. The
charges were taken up in the order they
appeared IN tho article. and at the con-
clusion OF the extended refutations by Ad-
miral Converse It was stated by Senator
Perkins that the apologies Of the commit
tee were due the officers for having called
them to answer such charges. Chairman
Hale assented to this view and no member
fthe committee took issue. 1t is likely
that the entire inquiry will be concluded
before the naval appropriation bill Is
taken up.
Converse First witness.
The development of principal interest in
the testimony of Admiral Converse was
that two Of the charges made by Mr. Reu-
terdahl we're In language similar to that
used by Lieutenant Commander Hill, on
duty with the general board Of the navy.
in articles which they prepared and SUBJ
mitted 10 the secretary OF the navy at his
requst. He disclsimed any purpose to in
dicate that these articles or statements
of those officers had been the inspiration
for the Reuterdahl attack upon the navy.
Nevertheless these officers are to be called
before the committee in the near future.
Secretary Metcalf also will be a witness.
No decision has been reached as to what
persons viii be called as witnesses outside
Of officers Of the navy At the Navy de-
mander Hill submitted to Secretary Metcalf
his reply TO the questions addressed to him
and Lieutenant Commander Sims as to
their knowledge Of the source Of informa-
tion alleged to have been furnished writers
who criticised the constructive features Of
the navy. Commander Hill declined to dis
ouss his reply.
Admiral Converse. supported by Admiral
"capps. was first called before the COM
mlttee.
! Senator Gellinger suggested that the adj
n,fra1 state whyVMr Reuterdahl. the author
OF the article, was described as an artist
who had been employed by the Navy de-
partment for a time in designing gun
prize trophies, and II was stated that in
that connection he had been with battle
ships in action on several occasions I'm
doubtedly he had Opportunities for seeing
and conversins with officers" said the
admiral that few in his position would
have" 1t was asserted that Mr.. Reuter-
dahl had had no education as a naval
officer.
Writings of Naval Omcers.
''Do you have reason TO think that some
officer or officers Of tho navy may have
inspired this attack" asked Senator Till
man.
Admiral Converse said he did not Know
that any officer had suggested the attack,
but he explained that Officers make re-
ports on various subjects at the request OF
ths secretary Of the TAvy. He said that
two Of these articles which he had seen
had contained criticisms of construction in
line with the article by Reuterdahl. He
was directed to name those authors, and
said that one report made In 1908 by then
Lieutenant Commander Sims, now COM
mander and naval aide to the president,
had made reference to the characteristics
or the Mississippi and Idaho, which were
to be built, and another article had been
written by Lieutenant Commander Hin in
regard tothe location OF the armor belt.
He said that Reuterdahl had made criti-
cisrns OF two features OF construction in
almost the identical terms employed in the
articles in question,
lnen 4 understand, said Mr.. Tillman.
without knowing all the facts Mr. Reu-
terdahl may have gotten his inspirations
Of the weakness Of the navy from the re-
ports OF these two officers?"
Il can't say as to that replied the ad
miraL 1T may be that he secured his i'm
presHionb from others with whom these
officers had talked"
RsutsrdahI with Fleet.
Where is this man Reuterdahl now?"
asked Senator Dick, II was explained that
he was with the battleship fleet on its
cruise to the Pacific. having been permitted
to start on the voyage before the publica-
tion Of his article.
Recurring TO the subject Of the RESPONSE
binty Of the naval officers for the criti-
cism OF the navy, Senator Tnlman asked
the admiral II he knew the names OF any
officers. other than Sims and HIN, who had
written reports or made criticisms which
aftsFwAfd we're made the basis of attacks
upon the navy.
II do not" replied Admiral Converse.
Was there any difference of opinion
among members OF the board OF construc-
tion IN regard to the matters, such as the
position Of the armor belt, turret construc-
tion ana ammunition hoistsP' was asked.
THE members OF the hoard were ,,ro,,t