New-York tribune., 1908-02-26

witnesses who had attacked the navy. Ad-
niral Converse then suggested that Rear Ad-
niral Mason. chief of the bureau of ordnance
Commander Fletcher. a turret expert and
Professor Alger were best equipped 70 advise
the committee in regard to these matters
After further discussion of official reports In
regard to accidents, it was suggested that the
conclusions in all such cases be sent 70 'hs
committee Mr. Til!man said;
There are a great many people in the United
States concerned in this matter. Congress does
not want TO go on building faulty ships or
having people butchered in turrets If It can ne
avoided We want all the light we can ger eli
this subject
The committee then took recess until z r m
QUESTION OF FREEBoARD-
When Admiral Converse resumed his state
r,ent at the afternoon session MI Haze ohec'su
his attention to that portion of the KenIeroaiIA
article which criticised American Vessels ioi
having their ar1nor belt submerged WhAe II
was asserted foreign vessels are constructed
with the belt above the waterline. After an eA-
tended discussion II appeared that me coinpaii-
son made by Mr.. Reuterdahi was between
American vessels loaded down for long voyage
and foreign vessels in fighting trim. He useo
the illustration that American vessels "ouid o7
in no better condition than the Russian patt!e
ebins were when they went into battle with the
japanese.
when a man goes into fight ne strips 1oi
~" replied the admiral. He does not go III
with overeoat on and carrying unnecessary bag
gage Ships act in the same way. They doh
60 into battle with their bunkers full OF coal as
T7oiestvenslxy did When our ships sailed for the
Pacific they were not in fighting trim Ihey
were loaded down for a long voyage
Figures were given by Admiral Converse
showing that the greatest overdratt OF any Dat
tleship IL the American navy Is on the virginia
and amounts only TO eleven inches While e SIS
ter shin, the Georgia. is nine inches oVerdraIt'
Tn other tvpes the over,lraft was declared TO
averag ge less than six inches Certain Vessels
of the cruising feet were said TO carry two
Thousand tons Of superauous supplies, which II
discharged for battle trim would raise the vessel
about thirty inches.
Rear Admiral Capps interrupted to say that
with burkers full Of coal for a long voyage
there is not 2 battleship in the United States
navy that would have less than eleven lnches
of her arnlcr belt above water. Admiral Con-
verse indorsed that statement
II think that entirely refutes Mr., Reuterdahls
charge" remarked Senator Perkins.
I think So certainly added Chairman Hale
one lesson We learn from all this is that a
naval power which fights at home has a tre-
mandous advantage" said Mr.. Hale. We
would never get into battle in these days of
wireless telegraph without getting three or four
davs' notice replied Admiral Converse.
EFFECT OF RIVALRY.
Calling attention TO battleships of the South
Carolina type. Mr.. Hale asked Admiral Con-
verse if he would not be willing to take his
chance on such a ship in engaging anv type of
ship aioat
yes" replied the admiral with positiveness,
adding that he considered the South Carolina
tz-pe the best class of fighting ship of any navy
Then why pay 81 100000 or So. 100000 more
for vessels of the Delaware class?' askAd Nr
Perkins
To keep race with other nations" replied
the admiral
Exactly" said Chairman Hale Other coun-
tries are building bigger ships, so We want
them
Taking up the ReuterdahI charge that regulas
tons do permit sufficient battle drills TO in
sure proficiency in this regard, Admiral Con-
verse asserted the contrary TO be true He gave
vivid descriptions Of several n1anHuvres and
feats such as coalng ar sea and other difficult
processes The navy has been built up TO such
extent ahat now, he thought. mancsuvres could
be performed equal to those Of any naval power
BUREAU SYSTEM INDORSED.
Admiral Converse supported the statement
made recently by Chairman Hale that never be-
fore in the history of the world has there been
such completely equipped fleet as that which
the United States sent 70 the Pacific In great
detail the admiral explained the American sys-
TEN Of battleship construction. which he de-
cared TO be the best III existence. Incidentally, the
statement amounts TO a complete Endorsement
Of the bureau system Of construction He
showed the part each of the bureaus played in
the construction Of battleships and their equip
ment and the fare that is taken 70 make up
the personnel of these bureaus with the best
material IN the navy from the point Of expert
ence and technical knowledge of the various
branches
Senator Perkins said he nas glad 10 hear
defence made or the bureau system, and he
thought the chairman and other members Of the
committee should agree with the admrals esti-
mate.