Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-25
HALE BEGINS INQUIRY
Investigating Warship Con-
StruCtiOn Methods.
ADMIRAL CONVERSE HEARD
Testimony Before Senate Naval
Affairs Committee.
VIEWS IN OFFICERS REPORTS
Terms Employed Almost Identical
With Those Used in Reuter-
dahl's Recent Article.

The investigation of charges against the
American navy and the conduct of the
Navy Department was begun today before
the Senate committee on naval affairs
Senator Hale. chairman of the commit
tee. made a statement covering the pur-
poses of the bill he introduced recently
for the reorganization of the administra-
tive affairs of the navy. and announced
that the inquiry would be hasttened in
every manner possible. He called at
tention to a magazine article in which the
construction of American battleships was
severely criticised. Copies of this article
had been supplied to each senator Mr.
Hale called attention to the fact that
Rear Admirals George A. Converse. re-
tired. now serving as president OF the
board of construction. and Washington
Capps chief of the bureau of construc-
ton already had made exhaustive replies
to the criticisms and said that these state
ments were before the committee NO
statement was made indicating what the
extent of the committees inquiry Will be
beyond the questions in relation to alleged
faulty construction.
Admiral Converse Heard.
Admiral Converse, supported by Ad-
miral Capps, was first called. He was
designated by President Roosevelt as
defender of construction methods and ma
terial because his experience had been
such as to make him one of the highest
authorities on these matters. AT the out
set OF his testimony he stated that he had
filled every position on board ship and
had served as chief Of the bureaus OF
equipment, ordnance and navigation. He
told of visits to foreign ports as COM
mander OF the battleship Illinois and of
inspections of the ship made by Secretary
of Admiralty Prince Henry Of Prussia and
Lord Brassey. an eminent naval authority
of Great Britain, both of whom practically
declared the Illinois to be faultleSS.
Mr. Hale called upon Admiral Converse
to take up the Reuterdahl article and
give his views of the charges contained
therein. The admiral characterized some
of the charges as very unimportant
some to be 80 stated al to give a wrong
impression and some to be absolutely
false
Reuterdahl's Opportunities.
Before he had proceeded far Senator
Gallinger suggested that the admiral state
who Mr.. Reuter- rdahl is. The author of the
article was described as an artist. who
had been employed by the Navy Depart
ment for a time in designing gun prize
trOpnleS, anu IL WAS Sidteu tlidl III tHdl
connection he had been with battleships
in action on several occasions
Undoubtedly he had opportunities for
seeing and conversing with officers said
the admiral. that few in his position
would have"
II was asserted that Mr.. Reuterdahl had
had no education as d naval officer. Ad
miral Converse said his attention had
been called also to photograph of
Dat of t1,n
Future" which seemed to contain the
many features outlined in the Reuterdahl
article.
DO you have reason to think that some
officer or officers of the navy may have
inspired this attack upon the navy?"
asked Senator Tilman.
Admiral Converse said he did not know
that any officer had suggested the attack.
but he explained that officers make re-
ports on various subjects at the request
o. the Secretary of the Navy. He said
that two of these articles which he had
seen had contained criticisms of construc-
ton in line with the article by Reuterdahl.
Reports of officers.
In reply to further questioning by Mr..
Tillman and with a show of reluctance
Admiral Converse said that he could name
the authors of two such reports. He was
directed to do SO and said that in one re-
port made in 1903 by then Lieut..
Commander Sims, now commando and
navad aid to the President. had made
reference to the characteristics of the
Mississippi and Idaho. which were to be
built and another article had been writ
ten by Lieut. Commander Hill in regard
TO the location of the armor belt He
said that Reuterdahl had made criticisms
of two features of construction in almost
the identical terms employed in the ar
ticles in question.
Then | understand said Mr.. Tillman.
| without knowing AL the facts. Mr.. Reu-
terdahl may have got his Impressions of
the weakness of the navy from the re-
ports of these two officers.
Il can't say to that replied the
admiral lit may be that he secured his
impressions from others with whom these
| officers had talked" He disclaimed all
knO wledge of how Reuterdahl may have
got his impressions, and in justice to the
two officers whose names were thus
brought into the hearings said that it is
not unusual for an officer to read over all
article to fellow officers who hold similar
views in order to get their judgment be-
fore submitting the article to the Secre-
tary of the Navy.
Where iS this man Rcuterdahl noW?"
asked Senator Dick.
II was explained that he was with the
battleship fleet on its cruise to the Pacific.
having been permitted to start on the voy-
| age before the publication of his article.
| Recurring TO the subject of the respon-
! sibiity a naval officers for the criticisms
! of the navy. Senator Tfllman asked the
| admiral if he knew the names Of any Of
/ ticers. other than Sims and HILL who had
written reports or made criticisms which
! afterward were made the basis of at
taCks upon the navy.
! II do not. replied Admiral Converse,
/ after evident effort TO recOllect others.
/ Views of Constructors.
among members of the board OF con-
struction in regard to matters. such as
the position of the armor belt. turret con-
struction and ammunition hoists?" was
asked
THE members of the board were unani-
nous in approving the designs used