Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-08
Congress Was Responsible.

1t Is certain that the board did not at
tempt to condemn any officer for making
the test, for the simple reason that it was
had under precise direction by Congress.
Indeed, the naval ordnance officers were
somewhat reluctant to undertake ii, feel
ing as they did that preceding tests, in
cluding very expensive one made by
the army ordnance officers at Sandy
Hook, had demonstrated the superior eff
ficiency of high power service shells fired
into the armor over low velocity shells
exploded on the surface for their racking
effect. So it is probable that, not antici-
pating the creation of leaks sufficient to
sink the Puritan by the discharge against
her armor of the containers of nitro
gelatin, the same thorough precautions
against the sinking of the ship were not
taken as would have been done had the
actual result been expected.
However, the test was conducted in
accordance with the direction of Con-
gress, with merely ordinary precau-
tions. 1t is now for Secretary Meyer
to determine whether these were suffi
cient, not in the light of what is now
known of the power of the explosive.
but in the exercise of ordinary judg-
ment based upon preceding tests. 1t
has been asserted that a mistake was
made in not towing the Puritan to the
Norfolk navy yard Immediately upon
the conclusion of the test.
Matter Of Judgment.
The officers from the Norfolk navy yard
who took the vessel into their custody
after Capt Austin NJ. Knight. the naval
ordnance expert in charge Of the actual
test, had finished his work, made the
plea that they feared to move the Puritan
from the shallow berth in which she lay
on the flats to the navy yard. lest the
leaks should increase under the strain OF
towing and motion and the ship sink in
the deep channel, from the bottom OF
which she might not be raised.
This contention involves question OF
the exercise of sound Judgment. 1t
might be difficult to convict an officer for
the sinking of the ship under such condi-
tions unless 1t could be shown that he
was actually negligent.
1t is coincidence that just AS Secre-
tary Meyer is considering the reports of
the court of inquiry growing out OF the
first armor test the same officers who
conducted it today began second test,
also directed by Congress.
In the case Of the Puritan, the expert
ment was framed to determine the effect
of the explosion of large quantity of
high explosives on the surface of ships $
armor a number of inventors cOntending
that it would smash the armor and start
leaks that would sink the ship
Purpose of Second Experiment.
The experiments now in progress with
the Katahdin are intended to demonstrate
the contention of the. naval ordnance Off
GERS that infinitely more damage would
be inflicted upon the ship by twelve
inch shell fired from high-power gun.
which would penetrate her armor plate
and burst inside the hull
The point of interest is to determine
whether it is possible for a tWelve-inch
gun to fire a shell over a distance of
s, 900 Yards which will probably repre-
sent the actual naval battle ranges of
the future. with sufficient velocity to com
pletely penetrate tWelve-inch armor
plate on the side of d ship.
1t is possible that the ram Katahdin,
which will carry the target i'm this test,
may, like the Puritan, be sent to the
bottom.
This may happen through her being
struck fairly by one of the shells which
may easily miss the target at this eX-
treme range.
Not Her First Immersion.
Ii so it will not be the first time that
the katahdin has been sent to the bot
tom That result followed test in
which she formed a target of gun IL
rected from the Indian Head proving
ground last fall. In the present case
however, she will not have far to go, as
Can't knight is under instructions to
place her in very shallow water while
she is being fired at.