The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-04
BATTLESHIP IS
STILL SUPREME
Naval Board Comments on Re-
suits in Far East
TORPEDO BOATS INADEQUATE
Cruisers Have Been Entirely Kept In
Background and Attention of Both
Sides Has Been Directed
to Big Ships.


to Big Ships.
Washington, January 3.-How absolute
is the supremacy of the battleship in
naval warfare and how completely its su-
periority over all other types of war YES
sells has been demonstrated in the war in
the far east is told in an official state
ment issued at the navy department to-
day, which is likely to arouse interest
because of its frankness and because it
was prepared by member of the gem
eral board OF the navy, of which Admiral
Dewey is president and represents the
view of that board as well as of the
Secretary of the Navy.
The statement shows. that torpedo boat
all met with complete lack of success, al
though made as usual under the cover of
darkness and against an enemy at anchor
and whose position was known" In the
opinion of high officials OF the govern
ment, the sentiment which has gained
some credence in this country to the eff
feet that the value of the battleship has
been discredted by the results in the far
east is one which will prove amenable,
and the department has adopted the
method of commenting only on the
achievements of the Russian and Japa-
nese navies in the effort to correct this
impression.
The report says
Has Caused Great Surprise.
"A great surprise has been caused by
the superb conduct and efficiency of the
japanese fleet, its ascendency upon the
seas being supposedly less natural de-
velopment of their old-time spirit than a
fighting supremacy on shore. Every
type of war vessel has it's place in the
navy of that country, and it is not too
much to say that each has been used in
a manner for the purpose in which it is
best adapted and for which it was in
tended; and perhaps no book Is more es-
sential to the modern tactician than that
on the study of the different weapons"
The department of torpedoes is dis
cussed and the fact commented on that
a hundred years have passed since that
craft was first designed, land the bat
tleship still stands supreme"
In the brisk Inauguration of hostilities
by the torpedo boat hotilla," the state
ment continues, during the night of
February 8, they did undoubtedly deliver
a telling blow by disabling three Rus
sian battleships, the temporary Gripping
of which force affected the conduct of
operations not only during the beginning
but throughout the entire first phase of
the war, the Japanese having by that
stroke won the mastery of the sea-.
This mastery was due to their having
the preponderance of batticships which
alone enabled them to blockade the Rus
sian fleet. No more eloquent tribute to
the pre-eminent value of battleships Is
to be found than this one. that the
small margin of advantage thus gained
saved the army many miles OF trans
portation of men and supplies. enabling
them to strike swiftly and accurately.
Value Seriously Compromised.
Therefore, If under normal conditions,
battleships can be destroyed or seriously
damaged by unsupported torpedo boats
their value is seriously compromised.
This. however does not appear to be
the case. Tho action of February 8 was
a surprise far exceling the usual ele-
ments Of assault: the Russian fleet, four
teen vessels in all. were anchored close
together in the outer funnel-shaped road
stead without suspecting impending hos
Titles, not a patrol Loaf being out and
the crews peacefully sleeping in their
berths. Three Japanese destroyer fiotillas
twelve yessels) approached with lights
burning and being mistaken Gas intended
for Russian boats returning, were allow
ed to approach close to the huddled fleet
then. with smooth sea, at close range.
hardly disturbed by a single shot in re-
turn, flash of searchlight. with all
the conditions of easy target practice,
not less than twenty-four torpedoes( and
probably more) were discharged of which
three took effect
1.-THE results We're undoubtedly mo-
mentous but it would be a hardy logi-
clan who could deduce from that incident
the comforting thought that the little
torpedo craft has displaced the battle
ship, or even materially diminished It's
prestige. Although the Russian destroy
ers in Port Arthur numbered twenty
four, or eight more than all in the United
States navy, not ono has scored a hit
1 en- far Itlrirc. tho wn,