The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-06

| " MAJ k--1OAn- ~Ae~~A1OA
, William II Sims, naval aide TO ,Presi-
| dent Roosevelt, by his own statement,
! is responsible for the row" over eri-
ticisms of battleship construction. at
the outset of his testimony before the
senate committee On naval affairs to-
day he gave the committee to under
stand it 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 in 1895 and was confined
10 official channels.
Much of my service has dealt with
these criticisms" he said and con-
tinued: Il began when | was SO years
old and now | am nearly so. / put this
IN because | am persistently called
young man. | am older that Admiral
Capps who has referred to me as IL
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 aC-
cept suggestions of value.
The plan of Commander Sims to
give the committee sensation was
upset Immediately by Senator Tillman,
who suggested that the witness be in
structed to confine his testimony to
alleged faulty construction and to say
nothing at this time of criticism made
of personnel, or incomplete organiza-
tion or other matters which are to be
taken up later. The commander ask
e. that he be permitted to continue
his statement without interruption and
that the senator's not cross examine
him until he had concluded his state
men. 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 if
you went into all of these things at
this time" said Senator Tillman.
Chairman Hale said the witness
was not to say anything now about
resistance to criticism by naval Of
f1cers," as that was matter Of
ethics.
Don't you care to know if the
department has resisted criticism?"
asked the commander.
mot from you" was the reply.
This incident furnishes 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 COM
lnittee called him back sharply.
The armor belt on all our battle
ships is too low" Commander Sims
stated broadly in taking up these sub
jects. He charged that the statements
made by Rear Admirals Converse and
Capps were misleading. eff an admiral
:AOulu go out of port without full
bunkers-say on cruise to the Pa
ciic-and should meet an enemy-say
in the West Indies-he would be
curt martialed," said the commander.
There might be a heavy sea running
and the fleet not able to use their
guns for week. Then the ships would
need fuel bunkers.' He said that the
logs of the ships of the battleship
feet should be secured and this
would show the water line of all the
ships
That's for us to get, not for you
to state said Chairman Hale.
Senator Tillman then came to the
rescue Of the witness-the first friend
ly word he had received: "All the
commander is trying to say" interject-
ed Mr.. Tillman, lis that the log books
will bear out his statements" Com
mander Sims said that the French al
low for extra and unanticipated
weights and that the Germans in
designing ships, figure on a normal
line with bunkers full of coal. He said
that when the American fleet arrived
at Rio de Janeiro the water lines of
the Connecticut class were fully foot
and half below normal
AT the conclusion of the criticisms
of the water lines, which was made
in the most general terms, Admiral
Capps was given permission to cross
examine the witness. The admiral did
this chiefly by raising direct issue with
the witness. He denied that the Ger
man naval constructors figure on full
bunkers in locating the water line
that the logs of a ship are accurate
evidence, and defied the witness to
show that vessels were overdraft
foot and half upon arrival at Rio.
Admiral Capps asked the witness if
he knew whether the double bottoms
of the ships were full of water when
they arrived at Rio. Commander Sims
had no data in this regard, so Admir-
a. Capps commented that it was "ob-
VlOuS' that the witness mad no data
on which to base his criticisms.
well, l should like to have the
committee call Rear Admiral Good
rich and officers of his type to bear
me out" said Commander Sims.
'1'n make specific allusion to that
officer in a few moments said Ad-
miral Capps. Chairman Hale hastened
to say that it would not be necessary
for either officer to express his opiH-
ION.
The question of turret construction
was then taken up. The commander
gave a graphic description of the open
turret with the direct hoists, which
pictured the dangers in such manners
that caused Mr.. Hale TO remark: The
wonder to me Is that any men come
, out of there alive"