Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-12
The Battleships Are All Wrong Ac-
cording to the Opinion Of
Capt. Winslow.
lRMOR BELT is TOO LOW
vessels Are Run So Light In Speed
Tests That II Gives No Idea OF
the Real Speed When
Loaded.

WaenlnkLOu, MET. IL. nat JhSAS
are serious defects in the construction
~ American battleships was charged
tuesday by Captain C. MGR. WinslOw,
assistant chief Of the bureau of navi-
cation Of the navy department, and
Commander A. L. Key, former naval
aide to President Roosevelt. The for
mer officer said the ships under Ad.
miral Evans were all over draft when
shey left Hampton Roads, He defend
"a Admiral Rojestvensky for taking
ne Russian ships into battle with the
Japanese with full bunkers Of coal,
saying that the Russian commander
could not have done otherwise for he
eid not know how far he would be
compelled to steam. Commander Key
attempted to direct the form of his
own testimony and incurred the dis
rleasure Of the committee on that &C
count. He criticised the armor belt
and the gun decks as being too low
nd the ammunition hoists unsafe. He
attempted to dispute the testimony OF
other officers, especially Chief Con-
structor Capps, but was not permitted
40 do 50. Finally the committee held
an executive session at which It was
decided that Key should be heard
wednesday, but that his criticism
! fhnuld DO confined to ships and not
directed against officers.
Captain Wlnslow, who was the first
witness in defending the Russian ad'
mIral, used the fate Of the Russian
! Neet as an illustration Of the danger
of going into action with the armor
helt too far under water, At the same
time me said that the ships should
carry at least two-thirds their capacity
~ coal and full ammunition and stores.
ne said that two-thirds supply OF all
stores would make all American bat
eleshlps too low, and therefore the
amor belts should be raised. He
oould not state the exact amount, as
a said II would vary on the different
shlps.
Commander A. L. Key, formerly
laval aide to the president, was the
next witness. He had an experience
similar to that of Commander Sims,
the present naval aide, In that he was
not pLrmitted to follow his own In
eiinaticn as to the form OF presenting
Views, He began by stating that he
had duty to perform not entirely
agreeable, as his testimony would not
Be en- roved at the navy department
he said he expected to show by com
parison that there were defects In
American ships as to the location Of
armor belts, the height Of free board
and the character OF ammunition
hoIsts and that be would be compelled
% p1'rt out inaccuracies in the testi
mony II Rear Admiral Caps, chic
e5ns'~'ctor and some other officers
uhc hrye been before the committee.
CT man Hale told the witness thai
be need not waste time in criticislnl
ne strtements Of other officers, moi
n di-cussing defects in old types O
ships. and instructed him to keel
abresst Of the times and follow thu
lines that had been laid down by thu
cDmmittee.
After q long discussion Of procedure
the witness took up the subject o
amor belts. He said the belts shoult
AT he placed around a fictitious waite
nne, but slfould'be located with regarI
10 the actual line when a vessel !
tduipped for action. He criticised tn
sDeed tests Of battleships and dc
olared that the vessels run 50 ngh
fhnt the test is OF no value in ascei
talning the actual speed Of q vesse
when carrying full armament ere'
and storeA