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

fective. A well designed two-stage
hoist is what is needed, he said He
suggested tnat permanent board OF
design would be valuable in select
ing and securing improved mechanical
devices.
He said American turrets, he believ-
ed, TO be inferior to those CT foreign
shipa He thought a disaster such as
that on the Missouri, phich cost six
teen lives, could not have happened
Oh foreign ship. The bareback would
have been avoided by the method of
construction Of the turrets Of those
ships.
admiral Capps questioned the wit
ness and asked whether he had ever
seen any protest against tie direct
type Of hoist during the Spanish-Am-
q. lean war ana lhe witness could re-
call no such protest.
Senator hale said he thought he
understood the trouble that caused the
tu. ret disasters. Did they ever have
these dISasLe. before the mania arose
for rapid target practice?" he ask
ed.
Mr.. Vogelegsan replied that rapid
practice was necessary to train the
men for battle. The trouble or the
Hare-D had arisen since SmOkeleSS
powder mad come into use.
IL you can propose anytnlng to
render a turTet absolutely SAFE, said
Admiral Capps, you will earn the
undying gratitude of the navy depart
ment. l personally believe that it will
be Impossible to make any DaCtlesuup
immune from danger during times Of
cattle"
Admiral Capps added that the ae-
cident on the Missouri would not have
occurred had not the ammunition been
brought out in a way never contem-
plated by the regulations.
But 1t is the way it will be done
In a battle" fuggested MT Voselge-
sang.
Admiral Capps retorted that he be
Heved that in times Of battle a bat
tleship could not be made immune
from danger.
Captain Bradley A. Fiske testified
that he had had little experience that
would qualify him to comment on the
question Of the proper water line and
.he turrets.
Yet you might be put in command
Ga a ship" asked Senator Tillman.
Later Mr.. Tillman remarked that
the witness had never been in a bat
tie. to which Captain Fislze replied
that he had overlooked the battle of
Manila.
''Ch. that was a murder" retorted
tIr Tillman.
1T didn't look that way before it
began suggested the witness.
Mr Tillman asked if the AMY gave
encouragement to inventors as it might
proitably do and Captain Fiske re-
piled that the inventor is not dis
tinctly encouraged
why not?" interrupted Senator
Burrows. Is the department respon-
Gip-e?"
NO" he replied
q think it is the people who com
pose the navy"
Reading from an article written by
Captain Fiske to the effect that no
improvement in the navy had ever
been originated by a naval officer,
Mr.. Tillman asked If he held to the
statement.
II do not think Of any instance in
which they have done so," he repli-
ed.
He had heard that Hitchcock had
been obliged to go to England before
he could get his inventions recogniz-
ed.
Senator Perkins said Captain Fiske's
paper reminded him OF the Bible-it
was a very fine literary production
but anything could be proved by it.
He added that as congress appropriates
100000 annually for experimental
tests he was surprised they had not
resulted in some inventive idea.
But" insisted Senator Tillman, "if
We find outside talent and cannot
recognize it what can be expected?"
Admiral Capps said that there SEEM
eu to be woeful lack of knowledge
among officers of the navy concering
what had been done to develop i'm
provements in the navy.
Captain Fiske said he could suggest
no improvements to remedy difficult
ties that had been pointed out.
Lieutenant Commander Sims ex-
planned that he would prefer giving
his statement Monday so that he could
review the entire controversy, He was
ready for the row, he said.
Mr.. Hale stated that the committee
didnota tngwot S-u?
did not want to go into the personnel
Of the navy at all at this time.
IF we nve long enough" he said.
we will take that up some other
time. What we want to know are the
conditions hat prevail today in ref
erence to the constr uction of ships"
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MASTERS TO TAKE TESTIMONY.