The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-15
EVANS ON OUR NAVY
-FTGHTING RoBv REPLIES TO
 CRITICS.
He Declares That the Latest Battle Ships Built by UncIe Sam Are
 Superior to Eugiand's
 Dreadnau@ht Type.

New York. Dec. 14.--That the latest battleships built by this country are vastly superior to Engiand's Dread naught. is emphatiealiy stated by Rear Admiral Robley D. E%ans, in an article in the latest number of Hanton's 's Broadway Magazine, wherein he strongly defends the American navy and replies to criticisms of It made some time ago by Henry Reuterdahl and others.
 T do not for c moment claim that the Indiana and her sister ships are equal to the Dreadnaught of the Eng fish navy" says Admiral Evans ''only that she is the equal of the English ship designed at the same time. But, I do claim that our latest ships are vastly superior, to the Dreadaught, and believe that every fair-minded man who has given the subject intelli- gent consideration. will agree with me"
 Admiral Evans urges the superiority of the thirteen inch gun over the twelve inch and asserts that the change to the lesser calibre to con- form to England's type, was a most se- rfous biunder. This Is chargeabie, he says, to the sea-going officers of the navy and not to any stan corps. Re- garding the waterlIne armor belt. he says:
 q am sure. after many weeks of close observation, that the lower edge of the armor belt is too high, rather than too low"
 It had been strenuously eontended by critics that low new location of the belt was a vital point of weakness.
 "As the upper edge of tht belt is al- ways even with, or above the level of the protective belt" continues Admiral Evans, "the danger Is to be appreh end cd from a protectile penetrating above the belt, beyond the wrecking effect of such projectile, is that due to the amount of water that may enter the hole. It is the damage that may be done by such projectiles entering be- low that may cause the destruction, of the ship-one projeetile so placed, may cause the ship to sink by exploding magazines or boilers, but this Is im- probable. It will require many twelve Inch shells on the water line. or in any other place. to disable, or sink such ship if the officers and men know their business. and want to fight"
 Admiral Evans declared the state ment that "a wound on a turret may disable that turret's guns" is absolute ly inaccurate unless by wound" pen etration is meant.
 "of all the inaccurate and mlslead- ing statements is this wonderful RAu- terdahl critieism." he continues. "the most incorrect Is that the battleships of the United States are in exactly the same conditions as were the Russian ships after the Russo.Japanese fight In the Sea of Japan. not temporarily. but permanently.
 "I assert" says the Admiral. that the battle fleet of the United States never was, nor never win be, never can be, in the condition of that Rus sian fleet when it went into action for the last time.
 The three leading features in battle- ships designs. which Admiral Evans concludes, deserves most careful con gideration, the arnaor. the motive pow CT and armament
 Either one of these sacrificed means weakening of the fighting machine
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