The Washington times., 1908-02-25
Reuterdahl Case VIII Be
Thoroughly Site d.
Hearing Before the
Senate.
Admiral Tells Naval Af-
fairs Body That Lieuten-
ant Commanders May
Be Responsible.

Lieutenant Commander William s.
Sims and Lieutenant Commander Frank
IL. Hill. OF the navy. were named today
By Rear Admiral George A. Converse
as the men who might be in some de-
gree responsible for the Reuterdahl
charges OF inferior battleship coHstruc-
tioR before the Senate Committee on
Naval Anairs today.
Rear Admiral Convet Sc did not aIlege
that these two officers had inspired the
charges. In response 10 a question by
Senator Tillman, as 10 whether he had
reason TO believe that naval officer
had contributed 10 the Reuterdahl ard
Gle or had inspired it. Admiral Con-
verse said he did not think that a naval
officer had inspired what Reuterdahl
had said but that similar ideas 10 those
contained in the article had been set
forth by certain naval officers IN Of
fetal reports that were on file with the
department.
Pressed by Senator Tillman 10 name
the Officers whose report contained
views and matter similar TO that set
forth by Mr.. Reuterdahl, Rear Ad-
miral Converse named the TWO officers
already mentioned.
He added that he was not prepared to
say that Lieutenant Commander Sims
OF Lieutenant Commander HIN had Civ
en- ReuterdahI information for mis- article,
but that they might have talked 10
others from whom, IN turn. Eeuterdahl
had obtained his ideas.
To Go Before Board.
As q result of the statement. how
ever. made today by Admiral Converse,
connecting Lieutenant Commander Sims
and Lieutenant Commander l{uI in this
Indirect fashion with the Reuterdahl
charges. those two officers w! be sum-
moned before the Naval Af1Girs Com
mltIee. SenJaOr Tillman asGef Rear
admiral Converse to join with the com
AaJtee In cross examining Lieutenant
Commander Sims and LieUtenant Com
mander Hill. The rear admiral asked
10 be excused from this but suggested
the names Of Rear Admiral Mason.
Commander Fletcher. and Prof. AIger
as suitable persons TO Join IN the cr0SS-
examination. Rear Admiral Converse
made marked impression on the COM
Hllttee oy asserting that neither Sims
ship.
Speaking IN a general way OF tba
IieuterdahI charges. Rear Admiral Con-
verse said.
Some OF tis criticisms are uninIoort-
ant others are SO stated as 10 he mis-
leading, and others are so stated as TO
he absolutely wrong"
concerning criticisms OF the hattle-
snip Illinois, Rear Admiral Converse
flsintaiaed Il was the best constructed
ot the three Warships OF thar fvne rha
other two being the Ohio and the Wis
cOnsin.
Employed as Artist.
Rear Admiral Converse was asked
about the qualification Of Re5iterda hI
as a critic OF the navy. He said Reu-
Ierdahi was once employed in the Navy
Department as an artist TO make a de
sign Of certain trophy. He said Reuter-
dahl had visited the fleet and target
practice at Guantanamo Rear Admiral
Converse added that Reuterdahl had
been I'm position t0 converse freely with
Iaval officers, and TO obtain their views
s he had been with the navy in Cuban
waters in the Spanish war as a news
. per correspondent
Rear Admiral Converse defended the
construction corps as TO its recon-
mendatiOn for turret work. lie said not
enc accident was due 10 the open tur-
ret All had originated in the breech
OF the gun. he went into detail in ex-
planning the accidents OF the Massa-
Chusetts, Missouri, Kearsage, and the
Georgia. He explained the farrback
and several accidents Of this kind
which We're now much moro unlikely TO
happen because of the precautions
which have been taken.
The committee resumed its hearing at
O'Clock this afternoon.