The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
SIMS is TO TESTIFY
He Will Tell About Alleged
Navy Defects To-day.
TO BE CLOSELY QUESTIONED
Committee OF Senators Prepared 10
Go Deep Into His Alleged Inspira-
tion OF Public Criticism and Also
Into His supposed knowledge Of
Faults in Battle-ship Construction.

When Commander william S. Sims,
naval aid to President Roosevelt. takes
the witness chair before the Senate Com
mittee on Naval Affairs to-day. TO give
testimony which the committee Is seek
ing in it's investigation OF the charges
that American war ships are defective in
design and equipment, there will be an
interesting session, according to the ex-
pectation.
On Saturday, when Commander Sims
was in the committee room, he encoun-
tered some ironical remarks on the part
of Senator Hale. the committees chair
that the committee will have many
searching questions to ask of him when
he appears TO give his testimony.
May Shoulder Responsibility.
Commander Sims did not give any tes-
timony Saturday but he made some re-
marks TO the committee that gave the
impression that he was willing 10 as
sumo responsibility for the criticisms Of
battle ship construction. He had begun
these criticisms in an official way many
years ago. and since Secretary Metcalf
has been at the head of the Navy De-
partment, has made an official report,
calling attention to what he regarded as
defects in battle ships built or then in
course Of being built II was the SINH
| larity between the criticisms in this re-
port and the criticisms in Henry Reuter-
dahls article in McClure's Magazine. en-
titled "The Needs of Our Navy" that
- a -
| fetal inquiry 10 Commander Sims as TO
whether he had furnished material for
criticism TO Mr.. ReuterdaAl and to news
papers and periodicals.
Has Not Formally Replied.
While Commander Sims has had several
| conversations with Secretary bIetcalf and.
presumably, with President Roosevelt.
with whom he has been associated
closely IL is said that he has not made
formal answer to Mr. Metcalf's CON-
munication. Members OF the Naval Affairs
/ Committee are expected 70 put him
/ through a severe examination in this con-
nection. TO determine whether he was in
| any degree responsible for the wide pub
/ licity given 70 the allegations that bat
| tie ship plans were imperfect. and that
! the naval bureau system was obsolete.
/ Commander Sinms has the reputation
Of being very outspoken. and 1t is be-
lieved that he will prove an interesting
/ witness.
/ Some OF the members OF the Naval
/ Committee were impressed greatly with
/ the statements of Rear Admiral George
/ A. Converse. and Chief C0nstruC tOr
Washington Lee Capps. in defense OF the
/ methods of construction employed by
the Navy Department. and particularly
with their explanation in response 10
the charges that the water-line arTnor
belt was not sufficiently high above the
water to he Of value. and that the tur-
rets Of battle ships were defective.
Explicit Answers Desired.
With the committee prepared to ask
searching questions on the basis OF the
/ information given by Rear Admiral Con-
verse and Chief Constructor Capps. Com
mander Sims will have TO be clear and
explicit in his defense OF the criticisms
OF these matters.