Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-27
SPEED DISCUSSED
BRITISH ADMIRALs TALK OF
DEwEY,s IDEA.

The New York Heralds European edition
publishes the following from Its cor:e-
spondent:
LONDON, Tuesday.-Admiral Sir Nathan
lei Bowden Smith, X. C.. B., who has held
the posts of commander-in-chief on the
Australian station and at the More, and
who Is a member Of the council OF the
Royal United Service Institution. said &c
the Herald correspondent, in reply to a re-
quest for his views on Admiral Dewey
interview: THE battle of the Sea Of ia
pan has shown US the urgent necessity of
gunnery practice, as the battle was prac-
tically won by gunfire.
Because, however, the fight was carried
on at distance of three thousand yards
and more should be loath to assume that
ii would not occasionally be fought at
closer quarters.
IT feel that Admiral Togo must always
have had in his mind the fact that he could
not replace one of his battleships while
the war lasted, and that this is factor
which we should take into consideration.
Speed an Important Factor.
Again although Admiral Dewey does not
mention it, speed must always be an inn
portant factor as it enables vessels to get
to the right place at the right time. and
ships having superior speed can choose
their own distance for action.
"As regards the question, therefore, OF
large versus small battleships, we must
have vessels of 1900 or $1,000 tons dis
placement, If speed, coal endurance ana
heavy armament cannot be obtained IN
smaller vessels.
Rear Admiral Sir Lambton Lorraine,
Bart, who will be remembered in connec-
ton with the capture Of the Virginlus
when commanding the Ntobe in the west
Indies and who is prominent member OF
most Of the naval societies, replied when
Intercepted on the lessons connected with
the Russo-Japanese war, that for the chief
squadron of fleet he placed his belief In
battleships with high speed and big enough
to carry a strong battery Of the best heavy
artillery of the day.
Our Own Naval Authorities Right.
He is Of opinion that our own naval au-
thorities are proceeding on right lines ex-
cept when, as has been sometimes at
tempted, to combine in the secondary and
special craft too many qualities.
Sir Lambton Lorraine added that "espe-
cially after the superb work performed by
Admiral Togo and his brethren he is more
than ever a believer that the superiority
depends rather in command of fleet than
in ships and guns composing that fleet.
The results of the discussion of Admiral
Deweys views and the views OF officers
who have commented upon them, says the
Herald's naval correspondent continue to
excite interest In naval circles generally,
where 1t seems to be taken for granted that
there is very little doubt as to the neces-
sity for big guns and big ships, but on the
other hand there Is evidently a wide diver
sity of views as to the part which speed
played in the battle of Tsushima and will
play in future encounters.
The views of Admiral Bridge are shared,
apparently, by number of other officers,
who consider that more stress has been laid
upon the advantage of this particular quail
ity in battleships than the circumstances of
the Japanese campaign warrant
1t is stated that distinguished admiral,
recently holding high command, will shortly
publish a magazine article taking this view.
1t is significant, at least, that in all the
correspondence which has appeared in the
press with reference to the lessons of the
Japanese war the tactical value of speed
is the only question of Importance upon
which there appears TO be a conflict of
opinion among naval officers