New-York tribune., 1908-02-26
NAVAL INQUIRY BEGUN
4pOLOGT TO CONVERSE.
ReuterdaM Charges Garry Little
Tggbt aith Senate Committee.

Admiral Cams chief Of the bureau Of eonstfuc-
zion and repair-were before the Senate Nom-
,afftee on Naval Affairs to-day in the inNesn-
CATION Of charges against the navy maze pF
Henry Reuterdahl in recent magazine sF'icle'
,-a,sae Of The article were supplied TO each Sen
s.or The charges were taken I'D in the order
they appeared in the article. and at the eonclu-
.ion OF the extended refutations by Admiral
Converse il was stated by Senator Perkins that
,he arologies Of the committee were due the ofh-
Gers fer having called them 70 answer such
charges Chairman Hale assented 20 this view
and TO member Of the committee took issue
This incident. at the conclusion of the first
daz,s proceedings. Is thought 70 inolcate 1hal
the ineuiry viii be short It has not been deter
mined whether the committee VIII enter upon an
'nvestiEa ton Of any subject except those en-
Traced IN the criticisms Of hattleshlp construo-
sion but Il other questions are taken up it is
certain no long continued discussion ~'a ee
rerrnitted II Is likely that the entire inquiry
win 1,e concluded before the naval appropriation
tfn IS taken up
The development Of principal interest in the
testimony of Admiral Converse was that TWO
Of The charges made by Nr. Reuterdahl we're IN
language similar to that used hy Lieutenant
Commander Sims. naval aid 10 the Presloent'
end Lieutenant Commander Hill, On duty Win
-he General Board of the navy. in articles WHICH
1arv Of he Nay at his request He o+sclalined
rx, r,1rDese 70 indicate that these articles or the
statements Of these officers had been the in
erira+5on for the Reuterdahl attack upon the
navy Nevertheless these officers are 70 he
called before the committee IN the near future.
Secretary Netcalf also VIII be witness No
decision has been reached as 70 what persons
viii be called as witnesses outside q ofcers q
the nav
-7arr T.sEFTfenznf
,7snder Hin submitted TO Secretary Metcaf his
-ar.l, n the questions addressed 10 him and TO
s-or,-77srder SINS as TO their knowledge Of the
source Of information alleged 70 nave been fur-
rjshed writers Who criticised the constructive
features OF the navy. Mr. Hill declined 10 dis
cuss his reply
At the outset % the hearing before the COM
1aittee Chairman Hale made statement cover
ing the purposes % the bill he introduced re-
r.rtiv to recrganize the administrative AFFAIRS
Of the navy and announced that the inquiry
would be hastened IN every manner
Admiral Converse, supported by Admiral
Capps was first called
Nj Hale callea upon Admiral Converse -
take I'd the Reuterdahl article and give his
views Of the charges contained therein. The ad-
rniral characterized some Of the charges as
sverv urirnportant,- some 70 he SO stated as 70
give w-rons Impressions" and come to Re ''ah-
solutely false
HAD GOOD OPPORTUNITIES.
Before he had proceeded far Senator Gallinger
suggested that the admiral state who Nj
Reuterdahl is. The author OF the article was
described as an artist who had been employed
by the Navy Department for time IN design
tng gun prize trophies. and that in that connec-
1icn he had been with hattleshirs in action on
Eeveral occasions
Undoubtedly he had opportunities for seeing
ard conversing with officers said the admiral,
sthst few in his position would have
DO YOU have reason 20 think that some Of
roer or officers Of the navy may have inspired
This attack upon the navy?7 asked Senator TIL
man.
Admiral Converse said he did not know that
any officer had suggested the attack, but he ex-
plained that officers make reports on various
subjects a. the request Of the Secretary Of the
-1avy. He said that two Of these articles which
he had seen had contained criticisms Of con-
struction n line with the article by Reuterdahl.
In reply 70 further questioning by Mr.. Tillman,
and with 2 show of reluctance, Admiral Con
verse said that ne could name the authors of
two such reports He vas directed 10 do 50,
! Hnd said that cne report. made in 1908 by then
N Lieutenant Commander Sims. now commander,
ksnd naval aid 10 tlle President had made ref
erenoe 70 the characteristics of the Mississippi
aad the Idaho which Tero to be built. and an
other article had been written nv Lieutenant
Commander Eill IN regard TO the location cf the
sruocr belt Re said thar Reuterdahl had made
criticisrls Of two features Of construction In al
most the identical terms employed in the articles
81 question.
Then 7 understand sid Nj Tillnan. that
without knowing al tn facts AIr Reuterdahl
may have got his impressions Of the weakness
of The navy FROM th- reports Of these two off
GERS
! cant zav IS - that" replied the admiral
~ NAV he tnst he secured HE impressions from
Others with .cherl these officers had talked.
Recurring 70 the subject II the responsibility
cf naval officers for the criticisms Of the navy
Senator TIIman asked the admiral If he knew
the names Of any officers, other than Sims and
Hill, who had written reports or made criti-
cisrns which afteruard were made the basis of
attacks upcn the nayy-
I dc not" replied Admiral Converse. after
evident effort 10 recoilect others.
Was there any difference Of opinion anong
members Of the board Of construction in regard
70 matters such as the position Ct the srmor
belt turret construction and ammunition hoists2"
was asked. He answered The members Of
,he board were unanimous in approving the de-
signs used
The admiral stated thst change had been
-,4sde in the turret construction cf the Delaware
type. which !. now building, IN that tauo-stage
s-arunitien hoist had been authorized. He said
this change had not been made with any idea
of additional safety. but because greater speed
vas possible Ee declared that not single
sccident on any Of the American battIeships had
been due 70 the open turret. that ali had orig
1nated at the breech Of the gun, and that the
obvious remedy is additional screens between
fh- breech and the ammunition charges prepared
far reicsding