The Washington herald., 1908-03-11
Navy Officer Said to Be Dis
courteous.
PRESIDENT THEIR BACKER Z
Senator'S Believe Executive Is Sup
porting Adverse Criticism of Navy
and His Attitude Encourages oppO-
sitiOn to the COmmittee-Witness
CFitieises the Committee


spectful TO the committee, both in his
language and in his manner.
The subject was discussed during the
committees executive session. and the
understanding was reached. It is said.
that the commander will hear plain talk
If he persists to-day in the same defiant
conduct.
The difficulty grew largely out Of Com
mander Keys determination to offer sec
ondary evidence to prove that the armor
belts and the gun decks on war ships are
100 low. Senator's insisted that the COM
mander Should not quote what other Off
GERS had said but that those officers
should, in justice TO themselves, be called
IN person. Tho commander showed much
piqus at this, and announced sternly that
he did not wish to be interrupted. Dur
ing the hearing Commander W. S. Sims.
with whom Commander Key agrees.
called him by telephone
Senators Blame President.
Some questions as TO Commander Keys
testimony were finally reserved for an
executive session OF the committee. The
commander. however, showed an unwill-
ingness to leave the room, and. much TO
the disgust of the Senators. kept them
waiting several minutes. He finally put
on his OverCOat with great delibeTatiOn.
apparently taking as much time as he
could, and marched out. Senators claim
that the President is supporting these
officers in their coatention. which explains
their attitude of disrespect to the COM
mittee.
Capt. c. MGR. WinslOw. assistant chief
OF the Navigation Bureau. was the first
witness before the committee yesterday.
He was followed By Commander Keys
Both officers expressed the belief that the
armor belt on American battle ships was
too low. II was also their opinion that
the ammunition hoist was. unnecessarily
dangerous.
Commander Key said he wished to show
that the evidence given by Admiral Capps
WAS I'm error. as he thought ne would be
able TO prove that the designs of Ameri-
can battle ships were wrong. He would
do so by comparing the battle ships built
by the United States and those built by
Great Britain since 1885.
Hale Cautions Witness.
Mr. Hale instructed the witness that
the committee would pass upon the
question of error itself in its review OF
INT tAuIllLALlDn Ol Witnesses i no WIZ
ness would please confne his testimony
to what he knew from experience or OBJ
servation Of armor belt and turret hoists.
The committee did not wish 10 go into
comparisons of old ships, such as the
Kegrsage and Massachusetts. Their mod
els were not followed in the new de-
signs.
Commander Key read report Of the
Construction Bureau of 1886. approved
by the Secretary of the Navy. as a basis
for his testimony. It recommended the
placement OF armor belt on a practical
low water line; that is. a line established
by the nominal load that a ship carried
II said that 10 tit the armor belt line by
a process of structural design was 70
make the line fictitious.
Commander Key was Of the opinion
that this order had not been changed,
but, nevertheless successive construc-
tion bureaus had not followed the prin-
ciple, and the line was established in de-
signs on fictitious basis.
FInds FauIt with Committee.
Commander Key protested against the
action OF the committee in allowing Rear
Admiral Capps. chief constructor. to be
present and cross-examipe witnesses and
then deny to other witnesses the privi-
lege Of reviewing and criticising the testi-
mony Of the chief constructor. He even
attempted to submit data TO show that
the testimony Of Rear Admiral Capps was
incorrect.
I'VE will not receive that now" inter
rupted Senator Hale.
4 think it is important 70 the com
mittee." suggested Commander Key.
NJ. Tillman inquired whether the mat
ter WAS in proper form to be presented
and express the opinion that il ought to
be received.
Mr.. Martin, OF Virginia. objected to al
lowing any witness to review or cor
rect the testimony of another witness ."
He said 1t was unjudicial and extra
ordinary.
Are you certain Of your facts?" in
quired Mir. Tiilman. Did you look the
matter up yourself, or Il is hearsay?"
ITS straight goods" replied Com
mander Key TT is important that the
committee hear me-"
"The committee cannot hear you now
interpOsed Chairman Hale, "the members
Will hold an executive session to settle
this matter"
Commander Key was insistent. and
Mr.. Perkins. Of California, backed up
his demand by saying that the commit
tee ought not 10 exclude anything. Mr.
Hale would not change his position and
the views Of Commander Key were not
further developed.
WinsIOw's Opinions Decided.
Capt Winslow had decided opinions.
The armor belt was too low and the
hoists dangerous.
"On what ships have you had experf-
ence?" asked N1r. Hale
ION the Kearsarge and Indiana"
do you know anything about the new
ships Of your own knowledge?"
Il have not seen the shutter in opera-
tion in the turret hoists"
What kind Of hoists do you consider
best. direct or stage?"
Il do not think the kind of hoist makes
any difference. What IS wanted is a safe
hoist"
Capt Winslow said the accident on the
Massachusetts in 1903. when every man
In the turret was killed, had been pre-
dicted.
'who predicted it?" asked Mr.. TIL
man.
well Commander Sims had reported
that burning powder would fall down.
and had written me a letter 10 that ef-
feet as early as 1902"
Capt. Winslow was asked by Senator
Perkins when he had formed his opinion
OF the armor belt placement being too
low. He had always had that opinion.
he said he had not been Influenced by
criticisms recently published. In fact, he
had not been reading them closely
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