The Washington herald., 1908-02-27
Ordnance Chief to Tell About
Navy's Condition.
WILL CALL C. T. voGELGESANG
Senate Committee Adopts Sugges-
tion of Magazine Editor as TO May
flowers COMMUNICATIONS Picks
Henry ReuterdnhI Criticisms and
Also the Critic to Pieces.

mower. the TTeSldentS yacht, VIII be one
OF the witnesses called to testify in re-
gard to turret construction in the rayy.
In a letter sent TO Chairman Hale,
which was read before the committee.
S. S. Mcclure. the publisher who printed
the article, Needs OF Our Navy" by
Henry Reuterdahl, which caused the in
vestigation. advised the chairman to sum-
mon Lieut. Commander Vogelsesang and
Lieut. Commander HILL
Senator Tillman also asked that Com
mander Bradley Fisze, who had written
an article. making criticisms similar TO
those Of Reuterdahl. be called as a wit
ness The committee will hear Rear Ad-
rniral Mason. chief OF the ordnance bu-
reau. to-day with special reference 10
the criticisms that have been made on
the tUrret construction and ammunition
hoists.
Watches Ships at Sea.
Rear Admiral Washington Lee Capps.
chief of the Bureau Of Construction and
Repair Of the Navy Department. was the
first witness heard yesterday in answer to
the charges made by Reuterdahl against
methods OF naval construction. At the
request Of Chairman Hale, Admiral Capps
recited his experience as a naval con-
structor. In reviewing his own admins
tration Of the Office OF chief Of the Bu-
reau OF Construction. il had been his
policy. he said. 10 keep in touch with sea
service at all times. and in line with this
policy he had assigned naval construc-
tor TO the feet during the maneuvers In
Hampton Roads, to enable him TO OBJ
serve the vessels Of other nations, and at
this time three expert men from his bu-
reau were with Admiral Evans feet. two
With the battle-ship feet and one with
the torpedo lOtilla.
He regarded as the most serious criti-
cisms In the Reuterdahl article those re-
lating 10 the insufficient freeboard. insult
fcient gun heights. and alleged improper
location OF the main water line armor
belt He reviewed the development OF
naval construction from the time of thu
Introduction Of the monitor type in the
United States navy. and pointed out the
objections to that type as seagOing YES
sells.
Monterey Not Good Example.
Senator Perkins reminded the Admiral
that the Monterey had made the trip
TO the Philippines successfully.
THAT is true Admiral Capps replied.
but those who were on board on that
trip never want another such ex-
perience
He quoted the British naval authorities
in support Of the high freebOard. and
cited the Royal Sovereign. Of the British
navy. as an illustration.
Senator Tillman was interested IN the
n no l1ab
the hole I'm the japanese ship Mikasa
Admiral Capps explained that from his
investigation Of the character Of the IN
jury inflicted upon the Mikasa, he did
not believe IL was inflicted upon the
aFmored section.
Replying TO the ReUterdahI criticism re-
garding the arrangement OF ammunition
stores and hOists, Admiral Capps de-
clared that none Of the accidental ex-
pl0si0ns on American naval vessels had
been due 10 grains OF powder dropping
from the breech. He denied that com
pliments were due TO Henry Reuterdahl
who. he said, did not show "even SUPER
fetal knowledge in the article he had
written. He referred 70 ReuterdahTs
title, given In the magazine article. AS
soc!ate member Of the Naval Institute"
and read from the rules Of the institute
20 show that ANY person from civil life
interested in the navy could become an
associate member on payment OF 8 a
year.
Better Than Dreadnought
Asked by Senator GalHnger to COM
pare the lighting qualities OF the South
Carolina and the Dreadnought Admiral
Capps said that he would rather com
inand the South Carolina in action than
the Dreadnought The South Cardinals
armament was more efficient. in his
judgment, than that Of the DreadnouEht
Her target area was less and her broad
side equal to that of the Dreadnought.
At the same time, ne believed the Della
ware, authorized by Congress to meet the
breadnought type. would be a superior
nghtlng machine to her English sister
ship
The naval constructors had changed
their plans from the direct hoist to the
interrupted hoist. because they had dis
covered an error in the former plan.
There were other considerations for the
change. mainly 10 Increase the rapidity OF
firing.
When the committee assembled for the
afternoon session Admiral Capps sub
mit,ct statement regarding the CON
st-uction OF S;.- Delaware to refute the
charge that the department had refused
10 accept designs or suggestions from
outside marine architects. Invitations
were made through circulars to the pub
lie TO submit designs. Nine outside de-
signs were submitted Each was con-
sidered by an unprejudced board. which
voted on each detail OF the design sep
>arately. and unanimously voted the naval
board of construction design the best.
Encourage Outside Effort.
The admiral declared that it was the
policy Of the Navy Department 10 give
every encouragement TO outside talent
and no discouragement was given TO in
dividual initiative.
This concluded the testimony OF Ad-
miral Caps and he was excused. 1t was
decided that Rear Admiral Mason CHIEF
OF the Bureau OF Ordnance, should be
called this morning to advise the com.
mittee as to turret construction and am
munition hoists.
Just before the committee adjourned
Chairman Hale read the letter he had re-
eeived from S. s. Mcclure. suggesting that
Lieut.. Commander Vogelgesane who
commands the Presidents yacht. be sum
moned 10 testify as an expert as 10 fur
ret construction. and that Lieut.. Com
mander Hill be invited to give his views
on armor belt at the water line.
Mr.. Mcclure wished the committee 70
know that neither officer had contributed
in any way to the Reuterdahl article
Both officers Will be summoned.
Mr. Tillman suggested the advisablItv
Of calling Commander Bradley Fiske
whose criticisms Of naval construction
agreed In many points with that OF Henry
Reuterdahl He will probably be called
Always the Same