The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-10
GOODRICH ONE
OF THE CRITICS
Rear Admiral Tells Senate
Committee Armor Belt
Is Too Low.
FAvORS THE 13-INcH GUN
SEA DOG SOMEWHAT CAUTIOUS
IN HIS ANSWERS.


, Washington. March 3.-Testimony
was adduced today before the senate
committee on naval affairs which is
investigating the criticisms of battle
ship construction, showing that the To-
cation of the armor belt of American
battleships was too low. On the other
hand. a letter from Secretary Metcalf
was read. declaring it to be the opin-
Ion of the board of construction and
Rear Admirals Evans and BrOwnson
that the arTnor belt lines of the bat
tlesnips Delaware and North Dakota
were right. The secretary in his COM
munication took occasion to declare that
American battleships We're superior to
those of any other navy. The wit
nesses today were Lieutenant Com
mander Richard d. White. assistant
Inspector of target practice, and Rear
AdmiraIs George c. Ramey and G. F.
Goodrich.
Could Be Made Better.
Interest attached to Admiral Good
rich's testimony because after the pub
lication of the Reuterdahl article he
said in an interview that he had called
attention years before to such defects
rs were alleged by Reuterdahl He
{ asserted that he believed the American
ships TO be good and that they could
be made better. He was asked BY Mr.
Hale if he would subscribe to Reu-
terdahl's statement that if our ships
went into action they would be no bet
ter off than the Russian ships when
they went into battle with the Jap
Rnese.
"Oh, no, sir" he replied, his positive
manner Indicating that he though.
there could be no comparison. 1t was
4,
seeking TO precipitate a controversy.
He was asked about the German navy
sticking" to the eleven-inch gun. The
admiral said the tWelVe-inch gun was
better than the eleven-inch and the
thirteen-inch better than the twelve
inch.
One of the Critics.
He was about to leave the stand
when Senaor Tillman called attention
TO the fact that Commander Sims
few days ago gave the name of Ad-
miral Goodrich as one of the men who
would cOrrobOrate him in the declara-
ton that the department would not
accept officers criticisms. The ad-
miral looked annoyed
Have you made reports to the de-
partment criticising any matter of
construction" asked Mr.. TiHman.
81 have" replied the admiral and,
answering other questions, said he had
criticised the location of the armor
Sbelt.
What do you think about it?" asked
Mr. Tilman.
Il think just as Admiral Ramey does.
have adopted his expression" said the
witness cautiously.
Armor Belt Too Low.
Pressed for more definite replies. the
III tho Il L, ~. -
too low. He thought the water line
should approximately divide the ar
NOR belt with half above and half be-
low the water line. 1t was suggested
by Chairman Hale that chance would
have to be taken as TO the condition
of the sea at the time the shin went
into action.
The whole naval life, Mr.. Senator.
is chance" the witness remarked.
Mr.. Tillman returned to the charge
that officers had been discouraged from |
making suggestions or criticisms, and !
demanded Admiral GoOdrich's expert |
ence.
Il have made several suggestions |
which have not borne fruit Do YOU
want a specific instance?"
Il want something tangible" replied /
Mr. Tillman.
Admiral Was Modest.
Admiral Goodrich said that i'm 1902 |
he had recommended abolition of tn. |
military masts with their fighting tops |
He said these masts were heavy an0 |
he knew of no instance where they
We're of value. The ships now beiue /
designed, the admiral said, do not have /
these fighting tops.
Then this recommendation did not /
fall on barren ground" said Mr.. Till |
man.
Il can not flatter myself that my
letter had anything to do with the de- |
cisiOn TO do away with this feature" 1
said the admiral
AT least you can say I told YOU
So persisted Mr.. Tillman.
Like the chairman. I've a New Eng
land conscience" replied the admiral |
4 can not take the credit
The hearing will be resumed tOrior-
row at 1880 a. m