Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-27
METHODS EQUAL TO ANY
Admiral Mason Heard by Senate
Naval Affairs Committee.
SAFEGUARDING THE GUNNERs
Every Step Necessary to Prevent the
Flareback Danger Has Been Taken
by the Department.


bureau of ordnance. explained to the Sen
ate committee on naval affairs today the
workings of the turret ammunition hosts
on modern battleships. His testimony
was given with the view of answering the
criticisms made by Henry Reuterdahl in
a recent mas zine article Mr.. Reuterdah
charged that there was great danger of
accidents with the straight hoists and
open turrets, and that 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 COM
parison with ships of other navies en-
deavored to show that American methods
are equal to any. He said that the two
stage hoist had been adopted for the Della
ware class, because it meant increased
rapidity of loading.
Control of the bareback
After an extended review of the differ
ent periods and changes that have been
made in hoists. Chairman Hale summed
Up the statement as follows: Then you
believe we have taken every step that
can be taken to manage. control and pre-
vent this bareback danger, and that so
far as hoists go they are as safe as they
can be made?"
Yes sir, l do responded the admiral
He explained that shutters are used in
the direct or uninterrupted hoist These
shutters interfere with fast firing, and
during recent target practice officers
asked permission to tie back the shutters
in order to make greater headway in fir
ing. This permission, however, was de-
MED.
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 emerg
ency hoists, but said that there is not
room in the turrets for their installation.
He said that occasionally cables break,
and sometimes electric power gives out,
and that In such cases tackle iS-used- He
expressed the opinion that the necessity
for emergency hoists is not an appre-
ciable danger.
To Obtain Speed.
In discussing this matter further it was
brought out that the interrupted hoist of
the new type of turret is not safer than
the direct hoist. and that it was put In be-
cause OF the insistent demand of officers
and seamen. who believe it will permit of
more. rapid firing.
IL WOOt0 seem. tnen, MT.
Tillman. that victory Is more important
to the navy than the protection of human
lives. Of course the men on the battle
ships are right in thinking that the ship
that gets in the most shots has the great
est advantage. This desire for increased
speed of firing is comparable to jockey
on a race track-he is willing to risk his
neck just to win the race"
"I hope the Navy Department will go
slow in what it does hereafter in sacri-
ficing safety 20 rapidity of fire." said
Chairman Hale.
Admiral Nelson estimated that the cost
of changing the turrets on all the battle
ships of the navy so as to bring them up
to the most approved standard known
would not be in excess of $4,000 ship.
"The life of one good sailor is worth
more than the increased cost of the safety
devices" said Mr.. Tillman, and he added
that there will be no difficulty in the
navy getting the money it needs for all
such work
Thirteen-Inch Guns Displaced.
Senator Perkins was greatly interested
in the cause for the change made in the
large guns of the thirteen-inch type to the
twelve-inch type which is the largest now
used
Admiral Mason said the twelve-inch was
capable of more power than the larger
gun. because in order to attain the same
fully eighteen tons more. and that weight
could not be allotted. The gun mount of
the twelve-inch gun weighs ffty-three
tons and carries a projectile weighing $40
pounds. while the mount of the thirteen
inch gun weighs siXty-three tons and
carries a projectile weighing 1.13O pounds.
In order TO increase the effectiveness of
the heavier gun Admiral Mason said the
weight would have to be increased to
more than seventy tons.
he of Admiral MaS0n'S state
ment the committee went into executive
session.
Critics to Be Called.
During the executive session the COM
mittee discussed the subject of calling Of
ficers of the navy as witnesses. 1t was
agreed to hear Saturday Lieut.. Com
manders Frank X. Hill. Carl I. Vogelge
sang and William S. Sims and Com
mander Bradley A. Fiske. All Of these off,
GERS are authors of statements made in
maga zines or in confidential reports to the
Secretary of the Navy criticising certain
features of naval construction. Secretary
Metcalf and Chairman Hale conferred
today in regard to the program for con-
ducting the inquiry. The Secretary Of
fered the committee all the assistance
possible.
The President Much Interested.
| The proceedings of the Senate COM
| mittee on naval affairs are read with
| interest at the White House ard the
| President is keeping I'm close touch with
the situation. few days ago he caused
| a letter TO be addressed to two officers
of the navy who have been charged in
| newspaper or magazine articles with
! having been responsible partly at least,
| for the publications that have placed
| the navy In an unfavorable light The
officers who received these letters, in
| Quiring as to their responsibility in the
| matter, are Commander William S.
Sims and Lieut.. Commander frank K.
| Hill. The reply of tMr. Hill as in the
hands of Secretary Metcalf, and 1t may
| or may not be made public
| 1t is understood that this officer denies
| that he has inspired any newspaper or
| magazine articles on structural defects
| in the navy. that he has written any
articles himself in regard to those mat
! ters Commander Hills reply goes quite
| deeply into the subject of naval construc.
| ton however, and asserts frankly that.
| in that officers opinion there are seri-
! Gus defects in the construction of our
battleships: that he has called attention
| to these matters in lectures which he has
delivered in the line of duty as a lcturer
/ bfore the Naval War College. and that he
4 has called his views and opinions TO the