Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-26
TWO EXPERTS
DEFENDNA VAL
CONSTRUCTION
SENATE COMMITTEE UPHOLDS
PRESENT SYSTEM
VESSELS DECLARED TO BE NEAR
PERFECTION
Officers from Whom Reuterdahl Is
Supposed to Have Obtained Data
for Criticism Asked to
Explain

by ASsOC1aIe0 1TeSS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Two ex-
perts in naval construction, Rear Ad-
miral Converse, retired, and Rear ADJ
miral Capps, chief of the bureau of
construction and repair, were before
the senate committee Oh naval affairs
today in the investigation of charges
against the navy made by Henry Reu-
terdahl in recent magazine article.
The charges were taken up in the
order they appeared in the article, and
at the conclusion of the extended refu-
tation by Admiral Converse 1t was
stated by Senator Perkins that the
apologies of the committee were due
the officers for having called them to
answer such charges.
Chairman Hale assented to this view
and no member of the committee took
issue.
This incident, at the conclusion of
the first days proceedings, is thought
to indicate the inquiry will be short.
1t has not been determined whether
the committee will enter upon an in
vestigation of any subject except those
embraced in the critisism of the battle
ship construction, but If other ques-
tions are taken up it is certain no long
continued discussion will be permitted.
1t is likely that the entire inquiry
will be concluded before the naval ap-
preparation bill is taken up.
Officers Must Explain
The development of principal interest
in the testimony of Admiral Converse
was that two of the charges made by
Mr.. Reuterdahl were in language SINH
lar to that used by Lieut.. Commander
Hill and Lieut.. Commander Sims, on
duty with the general board of the
in attioI x,I,f ,ss,H
and submitted to the secretary of the
navy at his request.
He disclaimed any purpose to indicate
that these articles or statements OF
those officers had been the inspiration
for the Reuterdahl attack upon the
navy. Nevertheless, these officers are
to be called before the committee In
the near future.
Secretary Metcalf also will be wit
ness. No decision has been reached as
to when these witnesses will be called.
At the navy department during the
day Lieut.. Commander Hill submitted
to Secretary Metcalf his reply to the
questions addressed to him and To
Lieut.. Commander Sims as to their
knowledge of the source of information
alleged to have been furnished to writ
ers who criticised the construction
feature of the navy. Commander Hill
declined to discuss his reply.
Admiral Converse, supported by Ad-
miral Capps, was the first witness
called before the committee.
Mr.. Hale called upon Admiral Con-
verse to take up the Reuterdahl arti-
Gle and give his view of the charges
contained therein. The admiral char
acterized some of the charges as very
unimportant," some to be 80 stated
as to give wrong Impressions" and
some to be absolutely false.'
Employed by Department
Senator Gallinger suggested that the
admiral state who Mr.. Reuterdahl is.
The author of the article was described
as an artist who had been employed
by the navy department for time In
designing gun prize trophies, and 1t
was stated that in that connection he
had been with battleships in action on
several occasions.
Undoubtedly he had opportunity for
seeing and conversing with officers
said the admiral. He said that Mr..
Reuterdahl had no education as a
naval man.
"Do you have reason to think that
some officer or officers of the navy may
have inspired this attack" asked SEN
ator Tillman.
Admiral Converts said that he did
not know that any officer had sug-
gested the attack, but he explained
that officers make reports on various
subjects at the request of the secre-
tary 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 Reuter-
dahl He was instructed to name those
authors and said that one report made
i'm 1903 by then Lieutenant Commander
Sims, now commander, and naval aide
to the president. had made reference
to the characteristics of the Missis-
sippi and Idaho, which were to be
built. and another article had been
written by Lieutenant Commander
Hill in regard to the location of the
armor belt.
He said that Reuterdahl had made
criticisms of two features of construc-
tion in almost the identical terms em-
ployed in the articles In question.
"Then," said Mr.. Tillman, without
knowledge of all the facts, Mr.. Reuter-
dahl may have gotten his impressions
of the weaknesses of the navy from
the reports of these two officers?''
at cannot say as to that" replied
the admiral. SIT may be that he Sc
cured his impressions from others with
whom these officers talked"
ReuterdahI with Fleet
"Where is this man Reuterdahl
now?" asked Senator Dick.
n was explained that he was with
the battleship fleet on it's cruise to the
Pacific, having been permitted to start
on the voyage before the publication
of his article.
Recurring to the subject of the re-
sponsibility of the naval officers for
the criticisms of the navy Senator Till
man asked the admiral IL he knew of
any officers other than Sims and Hill
who had written reports or made crit
icisms which afterward were made the
basis of attacks upon the navy.
II do not" replied Admiral Converse.
"Was there any difference of opinion
among members of the board Of con-
struction In regard to the matters. such
as 10 the position of the armor belt.