Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-26
INVESTIGATION SHOWS
. NAVY TO Be ALL RIGHT
Senate Committee Looks Into Ac.
GusatIOns Made IN the Reuter-.
dahl Magazine Article.
CONVERSE REFuTEs ALL CHARGES
Senator Perkins Says Committee
Should Apologize to Navy Depart.
ment for Beginning investigation,
and Belief General Routerdahl
ouoh, to be Landed on peser,
Island. Ia, 8.
(ny AssocIated proesN

! (By Associated Pross)
| WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Feb Co.
Two experts in naval construction
Rear Admiral Converse. retired pre-
sident of the board of construction,
and Rear Admiral Capps. chief OF the
bureau OF construction and repair
were before the Senate committee on
naval affairs today in the inyestiga-
tIon Of charges against the navy.
made by Henry Routerdahl. in n re-
cent magazine article, Tic charges
We're taken up In the order they an
rcarcd In the article and ut the con
clusion OF the extended rcfutations by
Admiral Converse II was stated by
Senator Perkins that the apologies of
! the committee were due the officers
for having called them to answer such
charges.
Chairman Hale asscntvu to this
view, and no member of the commit
! tee took Issue.
This incident at the conclusion OF
the frat days proceedings Is thonghs
to indicate that the inquiry will be
short,
II has not been determined whether
the committee will enter upon an In
vestlgation Of any subject except
those embraced in the criticisms OF
| batileship construction. II is likely
that the entire inquiry will he con-
clnded l'aforc the naval appropriation
bill Is taken up.
The develoncmcnt of particular in 2
i tcrcst in the testimony of Admiral
Converse was that two of the charges
made ~ MIR. Reuterdahl were In Ian.
gunge similar to that used by Com
mandcr Sinus, naval aid to the Pre-
sident, and Lieutenant Commander
Hill, in articles which they prepared
and submitted to the secretary OF the
navy at his reqnest He disclaimed
any purpose TO Indicate that these ar
.icles or statements OF these officers
had been the inspiration for the Tlc,,-
terdahl attack upon the navy. Never
iheless officers are to be called before
the committee
| Secretary Mctcalf also will be Wit
ness No decision has been reached
as to whether anyone will he called nj
n witness outside of officers of the
navy.
Who Reuterdahl Is.
Before Admiral Converse had pro-
coedcd far today, Senator Gallingcr
suggested that the admiral state who
Mr.. Reutcrdahl IS. The author of the
article was Unidentified as an artist
who had been employed by the navy
department for time in designing
gun prize trophies anu 1T was stated
that in that connection he had been
with battlcships in action OH several
accasions.
Undoubtedly he had opporiunity
for seeing and conversing with Off
ccrs.' said the admiral. that few in
his position would have. 1t was as
serted that Mr.. Reuterdahl had had
no education as naval officer.
DO you have reason to think that
scme officer or officers of the navy
may have inspired this attack upon
the navy?" asked Senator Tillman
Admiral Converse said lie did not
know that any ofcer had suggested
the attack but he explained that ON
GERS make reports on various sub
1acis at the request of the secretary
of The navy.
He said that In one report made in
1903 by then Lieutenant Commander
Simms, he had made reference to the
cnHractcriSiicS OF the mississippi and
Idaho which were to Lc built, and
another article had been written by
Lieutenant Commander Hill in ref
crcncc 10 the location OF the arm0r
bolt. He said Mr.. Rcutcrdahl had
made criticisms of features of con
4 struciion in language almost iden-
teal with that employed in Tie arti-
Gle in question.
WAS there any difference of opin-
ion among tie members of the board
lof construction in matters such MS
the position of the armor belt. turrct
construction and ammunition hoists?'
was asked.
Tho members of the board were
unanimous in approving The designs
used.p
Change Made on 0elaware.
| The admiral then stated that n
change had bccn made in tho turrot
construction OF the Delaware which IS
now being built in Newport News. Va,
| In that a two stage ammunition hoist