The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-23
The Nary.s Need Of Destroyer.

In his annual report last December
Secretary MEYER recommended the con-
struction Of two battleships and one TO
pair ship in order 10 keep the 9ppropri-
atoms FOR the Navy Department within
he economical limit set for the Govern
ment Congress has added 10 this
modest programme two fleet colliers,
four submarine torpedo boats and six
torredo boat dcstroyers
Our submarine hotilla is far from what
il should be- IN numbers and compile
ment. but the greatest need Of the navy
to-day Is destrOyers, whose function Il
is 10 sink the torpedo carrying sub
marine. II the United States we're
at war with a sea Power Possessing
many submarines. like Great Britain,
France or Japan. the United States
would be at a great disadvantage be-
cause il has neglected 20 furnish its feet
Of battleships and cruisers with destroy
ers of modern type in the proportion Of
az least two de-troyers N each big ship.
Some authorities say the proportion
should be three 20 one AZ the present
time according 70 a liable recently COM
piled, England has % destroyers to
each battleship and armored cruiser,
Germany %, Japan 81, France ,. Italy
"a. and the United States /. The United
States places her main reliance in war
upon battlcships, and another table.
which excludes arnOred cruisers. shows
that England has 81 destroyers 20 every
battleship, Germany 80. Japan 81,
France 80. Italy 20, and the United
States l.5.
The destroyer has been termed the
night Waterman Of the feet, but il is
much more than that. with ia high
speed and the battery il carries the
destroyer should be able 10 dispose Of
several submarines Of an active enemy.
Moreover the destroyer equipped with
torpedOes Of great range can be used
Extensively against the big ships Of the
enemy's fleet. Thus under fayoring
conditions il can do the work Of sub
marines. and az all times, night and day,
put submarines out Of action. In the
hands u a brilliant tactician the de-
stroyer is perhaps the most useful unit
in Aec'. Battleships and cruisers with
an inadequate number Of these protec-
te'tors for defence and for employment
az skirmishers must be always in grave
peril Of destruction after dark IN the
presence Of an enemy that is strong in
submarines. The improved torpedo has
range Of from four % SIX thousand
yards, and the most powerful search
light may fail 70 reveal a submarine get
ting her distance and preparing 10 sink
beneath the surface b launch a torpedo
Only the destroyer can deal effectively
with these hornets, and the confidence
Of the officers and men Of a hattleship
feet is greatly increased when earh big
ship has two Of more destroyers on the
lookout.
In commission or available Tor service,
the United States has 20 destroyers. while
Germany has %, japan 81, France IS,
and England ilS AZ Q conservative
estimate twenty-eight destToyers should
be- added 70 the United States navy inn
mediately. and for every new battleship
or great cruiser going into commission
there should be two additional destroy
srs ready n Hy the flag Nothing but
the strictest injunction Of economy
could have Influenced Mr.. MEYER 70
drop destroyers from his list. but il was
short sighted thrift, and we are glad
that Congress has supplied the omission.
We should like to see ten destroyers
added u the establishment annually
for several vanrs