| Show Admiral Says He Favors Strongly Holland oats 1 Special Correspondence Corr Washington Feb 14 Admiral Dew Dewey Dewey ey believes in the Holland submarine boat In reply to a letter of inquiry addressed to hint him by Senator Stewart I of Nevada the admiral expressed great confidence in Ia the value of this f type of o war craft for harbor and coast I defense e The senate has had printed in convenient form fohn the testimony of Admiral Dewey before the house com corn committee k on naval affairs The admiral testified as follows Gentlemen I saw the operation of or orthe the boat down off oft Mount Vernon the theother theother theother other day Several of the members of this committee were there I think we ve were all very ery much impressed with its performance performa My aid Lieutenant j i Caldwell Caidwell was as on board Hoi H could tell tel 1 t if necessary what was done from the inside The boat did everything that the owners proposed to do And I said saie then and I have said it since that If it they had had two of those things in Manila I never could have held it with the squadron I had The effect to my mind it itis is s infinitely superior to tomines tomines tomines mines or torpedoes or anything of the I kind With craft moving under underwater underwater underwater water it would wear people out With two of those in Galveston all the navies of the world could not blockade that place I agree with the resol resolution resolution tion of Mr Cummings I think it would be bc money well spent I think it would tend to keep peace That is what we want a navy for We W want peace Questions Put Fut ut to Dewey e way Mr Cummings then said Admiral I drew up some questions which I would like to ask you in connection with this matter What is your opinion opinion opinion ion as to the performance of the Holland Hol HoI Holland HoIland land in the various evolutions in the trial exhibitions made off ff Mount Ver Vernon Vernon Vernon non on the of March at which you were present 1 I think they were wonderfully suc successful s c answered the admiral What do you think would be the value of similar submarine boats as a harbor and coast protectors against hostile fleets in time of war var when manned by crews skilled in their man management management gement and use They would be most valuable Would not the th possession of the im improved Improved proved pr ved type of Holland boat designated ed as No 7 ready for action in each of our seaports prove a powerful aid aidin aidIn in assuring the safety of our harbors from the attacks of an enemy asked l Mr Cummings Most certainly replied the ad admiral admiral miral mimi Places to Be Protected With your knowledge of the extensive ive Ire fortifications by the British gov government government at the ports of and Vancouver on the Pacific of Hall Hali fax Nova Scotia of Bermuda and of and Rm of the short distances from these several ports to the coasts of or the United States what ports on our coast do you consider as requiring to tobe tobe tobe be at all times thoroughly protected from attack by water again asked Mr Cummings New Ness York of course the entrance to Delaware and Chesapeake Ch bays b ays Hampton Roads asked a member of the committee Yes That Tha be the entrance of the Chesapeake bay Hampton Roads Reads that means me entrance That is where Chesapeake e bay should sh uld be he de defended I I fended at oat the capes of Virginia Vir Capes Charles and Henry All AU of our ports port should be equipped with them New Orleans of course cour Galveston that is isone isone one of our great groot ports San Francisco of course and the entrance to Puget sound answered Admiral Dewey I Thinks Boats Are Needed N eded I Mr Ir Cummings then asked Con Considering g the moderate mod rate cost of the im improved Improved proved Holland torpedo boat with its increased speed its ease of handling and its torpedo efficiency and the fact that only five men are required to man and operate each boat would you not say that the interests of the govern government government government ment through the providing of such I defenses for our great seaports will willbe willbe I be advanced by the prompt construes tion Uon of such boats for that service Certainly Certain h I would was the admirals admi admirals rals answer I If twenty of the improved Holland torpedo boats can be purchased for the cost of one battleship p and constructed in of the time would you not riot deem deeni It wise to make immediate i provision for the purchase and distri distribution distribution of that number of said boats along our coasts 1 I f would replied the admiral Mention any other points that may occur to you as the th result of your ob observation observation of the performances of this boat asked Mr Cummings Wel We l said the admiral I think I have covered that in what I have said that from what I saw my my own belief is that I could not with my squadron fifteen ships if the enemy had had two of those boats with determined men on onboard onboard onboard board have held hell that bay ba It would have worn us out We would have had to be under way wa and never knew when the blow was to strike The Tb hu hi man frame would not ot have stood It itI I i think so now as I said before Of i course submarine means with torpe torpedoes t I does Torpedo boats surface boats heathI I dont give gle much for those No Chance to w Destroy Them What chance admiral would you have had for destroying these boats asked one of the members of the com corn committee i I That would have been the trouble i I answered Admiral Dewey I r JJ a vessel that could have got into river and they would have come out at night and we Ave would not have seen them They would have had that op opportunity opportunity and fUld taken a dark night and I we would not have seen them until they the 1 were close to us and my m experience is that you fire very badly in those con I mean moon aim badly And the chances are not very good She only came to the surface for a moment I How long ong I Only ten tei te seconds You could not train your yot guns on them I think t ink in I the Interests int rests of peace and that th t is s what we all nil want it would ba be money well velt wellS spent S e t remarked the admiral ad m iral in con oon concluding eluding his hi testimony J S VAN ANTWERP j |
