Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-05
SAYS CRITIC
OF THE NAVY
TELLS TRUTH
ADMIRAL GOODRICH MAKES
STRONG STATEMENT
AYERS CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS
is FAULTY
Interviewed in Chicago, commandant
of the New York Navy Yard Is
Reported as Defending
ReuterdahI

Charges that there are weaknesses in
the equipment of the United States navy
are admitted to be true by Rear Adj
miral c. +. Goodrich commander of the
New York navy yard and one. of the
ablest men in the naval service, accord
ing to an interview published in the New
York Times. Many of the high officials
in the navy, himself among them, he
said, have notified the department at
Washington officially of the weaknesses.
Admiral Goodrich stopped off in Chi
cago on his way to San Diego, where
he will unveil a monument erected by
the sailors of the Pacific squadron in
memory of the sixty-six men killed in
the explosion aboard the cruiser Ben
nlngton in 1905. At that time Admiral
Goodrich was in command Of the Pacific
squadron.
He was interviewed at the Chicago club
with regard to the article by Henry
Reuterdahl on navy defects. One of Mr.
Reuterdahls assertions was that ''criti-
cism is stihed' in the navy. Admiral
Goodrichs first statement corroborated
that much.
you know my lips are locked against
discussions rejecting on the navy" he
said. THAT is an order of the depart
ment Yes, 1 believe the order is much
more exacting in the navy than in the
army"
however, IHe aufnlTal Olu HOb COhSiuSA
it violation of duty to express a gem
eral opinion on what other persons had
charged.
True in the Main
"I have heard a lot about the charges
made in the article" he continued. Il
will say this much, that Reuterdahl knew
what he was talking about. There is lit
tie in the article that is not true.
have a copy of the magazine upstairs
and have read it carefully. 1 have ex-
pressed myself on these matters to the
department at the solicitation of the
secretary"
''Were the opinions solicited before or
after the publication Of the criticismsf'
was asked.
81 am pretty sure it was before. Yes,
several weeks ago, and 1 feel sure that
number of other officers-I didn't see
the letters, but l have reason to believe
they dld-reported the same criticisms
back to the department. The secretary
sent us letters soliciting suggestions"
"The critic declared the vessels were
built too low and the shell-proof armor
belt was below the waterline, on practi-
cally ali the fighting ships" was sug-
gested.
Eyes, that is true" replied the ad-
miral.
rs that due to any fault of the navy
| officials or to the contractors who con-
structed the vessels?"
"Now, that's getting too deep; l can't
answer that question" said the admiral
Nothing would please me more than TO
answer all these questions-Just TO ralse
the safety valve long enough to let OH
steam, but 1 can't do it."
When it was pointed out that Rear
| Admiral Melville had criticized the strife
of the bureaus as responsible for what
ever weaknesses there were in the navy
Admiral Goodrich said;
"Well, Rear Admiral Melville Is on the
retired list, and so is over the fence, so to
sneak. in regard to talking about the
navy. 1 don't think that is an alto
gether fair statement, however. There
are a good many bureaus, but all are
under one centralized control"
He refused to say anything about the
resignation of Admiral Brownson as
chief of the bureau of naVigaton'