Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-28
MASON BEFORE COMMITTEE
Rear Admiral Discusses Charges
Against Bsttleship Construction.
STRAIGHT HOSTS, OPEN TURRETs
Charge I'm Magazine Article that
These Features Are Dangerous is
Denied-FIarebacks Guarded
Against.

WASHINGTON Feb. PA general dis
cussion today among members OF the SEN
ate committee on naval affairs indicated
that the investigation of charges of de-
fects in battleship construction will be ex-
tended to number of other questions that
have attracted public attention. Among
these questions will be that of whether
staff officers, such as naval surgeons
shall be given command of hospital ships
or other naval vessels. This undoubtedly
will result in an airing of the contro-
versy between Rear Admiral Brownson
and Surgeon General Rixey, which was
disposed of by the president supporting
the latter in his contention that surgeon
should be given the command Of the hos
pital ship Relief.
Rear Admiral N. r. Mason, chief of the
ordnance bureau, explained to the com
mittee today the workings Of turret ammu-
milton hoists from powder handling rooms
to big guns on modern battleships His
testimony was given with the view of
answering the criticism made by Henry
Reuterdahl. in a recent magazine article.
HoIsts and Turrets.
Mr.. Reuterdahl charged that there was
great danger of accident with the straight
hoists and open turrets, and that a number
of the life-destroying explosions, such as
those on the Missouri and Georgia, were
caused by faulty hoists Admiral Mason
denied this and by comparison with ships
OF other nations, endeavored to show that
American methods are equal to any.
After an extended review Of the different
periods and changes that have been made
In hoists, Chairman Hull summed up the
statement as follows:
Then you believe we have taken every
step that can be taken to manage, control
and prevent this bareback danger and
that so far hosts go they are as safe
as they can be nader
yes, sir, do" responded the admiral.
Senator Tillman referred to the charge
made by Mr. Reuterdahl, that the Ameri-
can battleships do not contain emergency
hoists. Admiral Mason admitted that there
might at some time be need for emergency
hoists, but said there is not room in the
turrets for their installation He expressed
the opinion that the necessity for emerg-
ency hoists is not an appreciable danger.
It was brought out that the interrupted
hoist of the new type of turret is not safer
than the direct hoist and that 1t was put in
because of the insistent demand Of officers
and seamen who believe It will permit of
more rapid firing
ut would seem then" interrupted Mr.
Tillman, that victory is more important
to the navy than the protection of human
livesg"
'Of course" responded Admiral Mason,
the men on the battleships are right In
thinking that the shin that gets in the
most shots has the greatest advantage"
81 hope the Navy department will go
slow in what it does hereafter in sacrificing
safety to rapidity of fire." said Chairman
Hale.
Cost of Changing Turrets.
Admiral Mason estimated that the cost
of changing the turrets on all the battle
ships of the navy so as to bring them ND
to the most approved standard known
would not be in excess of $4,000 ship.
Senator Perkins was greatly interested in
the cause of the change made in the guns
from the thirteen-inch type to the twelve
inch type, which is the largest now used
Admiral Mason said the twelve-inch was
better than the larger gun, because in
order to attain the same effectiveness the
larger gun would weigh fully eighteen tons
more and that the weight could not be
allotted.
At the conclusion of Admiral MaSon's
statement the committee went into execu-
tive session.