Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-08

in an effective navy. AS is we'll known
several battleships are now in course
of construction and will, within the
next few years, be added to the Amer
lean navy. There has been much dis
cussion in congress and throughout
the country regarding the relative
worth of battleships and smaller war
vessels. but those who favored the
heavy ships have prevailed thus far.
When Togos victory was announced
the opponents of the smaller craft idea
were overjoyed to find that the Japan
csc had kept their battleships in the
background and had done the greatest
work with the smaller craft But now
that the later reports are coming in
the indications are that Togo's battle
ships had great deal to do in turn
ing the tide of victory toward the
Orientals. President Roosevelt does
not consider the news from the east
as sufficient to change his opinion as
to the advisability of having a large
number of heavy battleships in the
American navy.
Admiral Dewey entertains exactly
the same opinion as does the Presi-
dent, and he repeated in an interview
yesterday that the more information
he obtained the more his view that the
battleship was the important factor
and the destroyer it's auxiliary in ma
val war was confirmed.
We have learned enough" Ne ad-
miral continued, ito establish the ter.
rife effect Of gun fire and the accurate
shooting of the Japanese. The sea
was quite rough and Rojestvensky' s
ships rolled considerably, exposing
their unprotected bottoms. The Jap.
anese gun pointers aimed for these
parts, and they hit The huge shells
rent the thin plating and the water
rushed in.
Torpedo boat destroyers did excel
lent work and were handled with dash
and skill, but they were useful only
when the secondary battery fire of the
Russians was either smothered OF
killed. The navy should have both
battleships and destroyers, but in
proper proportions. Rojestvensky was
beaten also because his tactics were
faulty. excellent though his strategy
had been. He passed through the
straits in double column, which blank
eted fire Of all his ships, practically
except those ahead. while Togo was
able to bring all his guns to bear upon
the leading vessels of his enemy.
Il think when all the facts come out
it will be found the Japanese used
mines, for one account describes the
vessel as being lifted up and the water
spouting just at 1t does when mine
explodes underneath a ship. sincere
| ly hope the country will not run away
with the idea that we should devote
ourselves to torpedo toat construction
alone. Destroyers and torpedo boats
are useful in their sphere, but thai
sphere is limited. We must have bat
| tleships and we should continue bat
| tleship construction
| Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans
commander-ir-chief of the North At
lantic fleet, and other officers of the
navy without exception, say that the
battleship must continue in the frs
line Of naval operations. Rear Admira
Evans is especially keen on the sub
ject of target practice. While there /.
no intention to make on ,invidious
comparison, the belief prevails in tn,
American service that our gun pointer.
are able to beat the Japanese at thu
guns, but this is matter of opinion
only and is not being received will
that degree of satisfaction by hig1
authorities which the statement would
| warrant