New-York tribune., 1908-03-10
METCALF PRAISES NAVY
AMERICAN SHIPS BEST.
Rear admiral Goodrich Thinks
.4rmOr Belts Too Los.

Washington. March 9-Testimony was given
to-day before the Senate Committee on Na*al
Affairs. which is investi eating the criticisms CT
battleship construction showing that the location
of the armor belt of American battIeships was
too low On the other hand. a letter from Secre-
tary Netcalf read declaring ii to be the
opinion of the board of construction and Rear .
Admirals Evans and Brownson that the armor .
belt lines of the battleships Delaware and North (
Dakota were right The Secretary in his com .
munication declared thai American battleships .
superior to those of any other navy The .
witnesses to-day were Lieutenant Richard ID /
White, assistant inspector of target practice. and /
Rear Admirals George c. Remey and c 2 Good |
rich.
Lieutenant White was the first take the I
stand In reference TO the location OF the armor
belt. he said that if 1t possible for ship to
get into action at the designed load draft the
present location would be about right but II was
his observation that the ships had greater drafts
than those designed He thought the drafts
would be still greater under conditions His
opinion the that of Commander
Sims. who inspector of target practice Con-
cerning the construction OF turrets. he said that
safety demands that the turret proper shall be
structuraIly separate from the ammunition hand
ling The two-stage hoist is one way 10
effect this but ne thought might he possible 10
construct direct hoist so that the handling room
could be isolated He preferred the tWO-Stage
hoist and declared that the shutters in use
in the direct hoist most inefficient" Descrih-
ing the shutter he said II is constructed that
grains of powder easily could get through the
slit the lift rope in the event of an accident
overhead
Chairman Hale read letter from Secretary Met
calf stating that after the plans for the battle
ships Delaware and North Dakota had been ap-
proved Lieutenant Commander Hill recommended
that the arnor belt should be raised thirty inches
The departnen. referred this criticism 10 the
board of construction. and the original designs
were declared to be right. Mr.. Hill made a re-
joinder and the matter then referred 20 Rear
Admirals Brownson and Evans who also declared
that the belt correctly located Secretary Met
calf called attention to the that the Delaware
and the North Dakota are to he equipped with the
two-stage hosts and there is ground for fur
ther contention as 10 the location Of the armor
/ belt" Answering general criticisms Secretary
NIetcaIf said. our ships are not inferior type for
type. in their period Of construction, to the
vessels other naves- On the contrary l con
cur in opinions expressed abroad that our ships
are superior.
Rear Admiral George c Rerney (retiredD told the
committee he would locate the armor belt with
reference the proper load waterlne when the
ship is equipped to go into battle He thought it
the duty of a commander of a battleShip TO have
full stores on board if possible. in going
tie He excepted coal. but thought the bunkers
should be at least two-thrds full
Rear Admiral {. F. Goodrich. cOmmandant OF
the New York Navy Yard was the next witness
Interest attached to his testimony for after the
publication of ReuterdahI article he said an
interview that had called attention years before
to such defects were alleged by Reuterdahl He
asserted that he believed the American ships TO
good and that they could be made better. He was
/ asked by Mr.. Hale if he would subscribe Reu-
terdahls statement that II our ships went into
ton they would be no better off than the Russian
ships when they met the japanese.
oh no. sir he replied his positive manner in
dicating that he thought there could be no COM
partsOn-
Have you made reports to the department crit-
cisng any matter OF construction asked Mr.
Tilman.
u have" replied the admiral. and answering
other questions. said he had criticised the location
Of the armor belt
What do you think about it" asked Nr Til
man.
= think lust as Admiral Remey does have
adopred his expression said the witness, cautious
" Pressed for more definite replies. the witness
said he thought the arno- belt too low He thought
the waterine should approximately divide the
arrnor belt, with half above and half below the
waterltne. 1t suggested by Chairman Haze
that a chance would have TO be taken as to the
condition of the sea at the the ship went into
action.
The whole naval life. 1I-. Senator. is a chance
, the witness remarked
Ar Tillrnan returned the charge that officers
had been discouraged rom making suggestions or
criticisms and demanded Admiral Goodrlchs eA-
perience. -,
y have made several suggestions which have
ror borne fruit Do you want specific instance
Il want something tangible, repled MI LIZ
Admiral C3oodrich said that 1902 ne had recon-
,,an,tad the abolition of the military masts Win
rheir fighting tops. He said these mastS were
heavy and lie knew of no instance "here 'neS
p,aro of vaIue The ships row being designed, the
.,irat s.id do not have these fighting tops
"Tben the suggestion did not fan on barren
prouudo" said Mr. Tillman-
II cannot natter myself that my letter had any
.birc to do with the decision to do away with
this feature" said the admiral
At Ieas. you say I told you so persisted
Mr.. TilIman.
Like the chairman. have New England con
.ie,.a, responded the admiral; Il cannot take
the credit" ~
The hearing will be resumed tomorrow at 1880