Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-30
|b|aIRALGRAhT SAYS
'sAlPs were IN BAD WAY
Declarcs They Would Have Made
Poor Showing I'm Battle in
Summer of 1917.
..ByLKliEADs NOT wATER-TIGHr
tAset Commander Declares Not One
His Vessels Would Have Re-
3nained Aftoat II 1t Had Received
saSeriops Underwater Blow.
IBy Asscc,ated Press ,

Y by ASStClateG Press
i 8 IyASHlNGTON. March .e.-Ameri-
w. SSn aunmarines and many second
line battleships were not in condition
S t Xdn war service in April. 1917. Rear
"A. w. Grant then command
ftstng the submarine force. today told
sL sn senate committee investigating
Names soa against I, the Navy Depart
were too small. of too short
sssraisingNadius mounted small guns
I zines, the orhcer testified. While the
required complete over
hauling to fit them for service.
Received No support.
Aqmiral Grant commanded the sub
sihe war and later commanded bat
rs ilIiesnip force one of the Atlantic
with the rank OF vice admiral.
~ He testified that. beginning i'm 1915,
SheJhad urged construction of Soo-ton
but received no support
y in5the department. most of the oppo-
ssLater. he said. the s0O-to boats were
and built.
z.EIhe department was slow to con-
b ships of his force. althourn, he ua'f had
been instructed that the ships were
ssia be kept in condition for battle.
5;lfMs Iirai ,o Gran , said Not one of his
manned afioats IL IT had received n
sss ser GU, undeI-water blow in August
Scompletely water-tight bulk heads an
Ethat time.
s..It the German fleet had, broken
!. : summer of 1917. would your force
have been in condition to NEE, the
enemy?" asked Chairman Hale.
s Could Have Done Little.
we would have gone out and done
Y the best we could. but it Wouldn't
reply. ~
mn Nrnt
witness said that the ships of his
practically the same duty during the
fed he e"supposcd" they were as eff
feetive as the more modern ships In
-Four ,subma rines of the TX" typo
+ started oversees. the admiral said.
although one had to be towed be-
7 cause neither engine would run, He
read the log OF the trip to show the
continued engine troubles and minor
casualties that characterized the voy-
age: ,
Azores ..thc1 K-1 was entirely dis
abled. the officer said. the K-2 was
available for. limited services. the
1 tireiy ready for duty. He added that
pre-war plans for the use or sub
~lnarines contemplated their opera
ton from bases Of the American
coast.
Most of tho opposition to his plan
for larger subme rsibles before the
board. the officer said.
\ Reas-Admirnl II. 1 n Mayo. COM
Amander of the Atlantic Fleet during
a s ~ sene aad h noara viii WHITES testify to-
iorrow.
~. TO centrovcrt Fletcher. Charge.
WASHINGTON. March 29.-Enorts
controvert testimony of Rear-Ad
!. -mFTs7 -wvTrT,rrn- Y. Fletcher tina, his
Is orders regarding the convoy In which
the transport Antilles was sunk, were
disobeyed, marked the conclusion to-
+ day of the offlceS's cross examination
by counsel for Rear Admiral Sims be-
ss fore the naval court Investigating
a. his removal from the Brest command
in October. 1917.
Z that, because his specific order did
not enjoin Lieutenant Commander
Freeman. escort commander, 70 hold
the convoy. together, il was literally
obeyed' when the convoy proceeded
IN two divisions Comma nder Free
d man violated established practice. he
lion. as .unders,ood" n, the time, pro-
.,,ie!.ed the sailing of single conveys
on this cerasior., Ec coniendsd
t aon4 w rs oiher i hnGuia Of h tHis
gal doctrine" accepted
Ter cross-exa nination by his
kannsal, Admiral Fletcher sad
definite and dependable IN
r. az to the arrival OF troop,
eglQEs the coast OF France had
&c II W&sut for his escort forces
project them ~ unknown waters.
cunmunicati6I. fI~i.n the iconvoys TO
'ore was uot ncEnit.ea. he said. and
.si- o!;er viao discrepancy between
aets4i al predicted time OF ar
], .l3a chcd an instance where
Iaavuy arrived twelve hours he
it was reported by radio from
Fietehers chief o. staff at