Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-05
STARTED THE bow
Commander Sims, Naval Aide to the
President, Responsible for Crit
icism Of Battleships.
COMMITTEE CUT HIM SHORT
He Wanted to Tell His story In His
Own Way But Was Not Permit
ted--AdmlraI capps Tries
to Cross Examine.

Washington, Mar. 3.-CommandeE
William H. Sims, naval aide to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, by his own statement
Is responsible for the ROW" over cri-
ticism Of battleship construction. At
the outset Of his testimony before the
senate committee on naval affairs Mon
day he gave the committee to under
stand 1t could expect some sensations
This was done in preliminary state
ment outlining what he had to do with
naval criticisms, which he said, began
back Of 1895 and was confined to Of
ilcial channels. Much Of my service
has dealt with these criticisms" he
said, and continued: II began when
was SO years old and now am near
ly fifty. put this in because l am
persistently called a young man. I
am older than Admiral Caps, who has
referred to me as young man."
Continuing, he said he would have
to go into unpleasant facts, such as
charging officers or inventors with
having made misleading statements,
the secretion Of official documents, and
the refusal Of superior officers to &C
cept suggestions Of value.
The plan of Commander Sims to give
the committee a sensation was upset
Immediately by Senator Tillman who
suggested that the witness be instruct
cd to conflne his testimony to alleged
faulty construction and to say nothing |
at this time Of criticisms made Of per
sonnet, or incomplete organization, or
other matters which are to be taken
up later. The commander asked that
he be permitted to continue his state
ment without interruption and that the
senators would not cross-examine him
until he had concluded his statement In
his own way. His request was ignored.
When confined to criticisms of con.
struction Commander Sims protested
that the procedure OF the committee
upset him."
You would upset the committee II
you went into all Of those things at
this time," said Senator Tillman.
Chairman Hale said the witness was
not to say anything now about re-
sistance OF criticism by naval officers"
as that was matter Of ethics.
Don't you care to know II the. de-
partment has resisted crlticismT
asked the commander.
mot from you" was the reply.
This incident furnished an illustra-
ton OF subsequent proceedings during
Commander Sims testimony. He got
away from the line Of inquiry again
and again and members Of the commit
tee called him back sharply.
1.-THE armor belt on all our battle
ships is too low" Commander Sims
stated broadly. He charged that the
statements made by Rear Admirals
Converse and Caps were misleading.
III an admiral go out Of port without
full bunkers-say on cruise to the
Pacihc-and should meet an enemy
say In the West Indles-he would be
court martialed," said the commander.
There might be heavy sea running
and the feet not be able to use their
guns for a week. Then the ships would
need fuel bunkers." He said that the
logs Of the ships Of the battleship feet
should be secured and these would
show the water line of all the ships.
That's for Us to get, not for you 10
state" said Chairman Hale.
Commander Sims said that the
French alloy for extra and anticipated
weights, and that the Germans IN de-
signing ships figure on q normal line
with full bunkers. He said that when
the American fleet arrived at Rio de
Janelro, the water lines of the Connec-
ticut class were fully a foot and half
below normal
At the conclusion of the criticism Of
The water lines. which we're made In
HE most general terms, Admiral Caps
was given permission to cross examine
the witness. The admiral did this
chiefly BY raising direct issue with the
witness. He denied that the German
figure on full bunkers IN
locating the water line; that the logs
II a ship are accurate evidence, and
iehed The witness 10 show that yes
Iels Were ovsrdraft 4 foot and a bali
lpon arrival at Rio. Admiral Caps
liked the witness n he knew whether
he double bottoms OF the ships were
an q water when they arrived e
zlo Commander Sins had no data IN
hil regard. % Admiral Caps declined
p corHnna. BE cunmenloi that n
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