The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02
GERMANY BUILDING
BIG SECRET FLEET
New Type of Ship, Which, 1t Is
Said, Will Revolutionizc
Naval Warfare
DREADNoUGHTs USELESS
Design Was First Offered 10 the
i British Government, But
Was Ignored
LONDON March


~ disclosure OF supreme Importance at
fecting tho naval position OF Great Britain
Is made In the Engineer technical
,.aper Of the highest reputation. which
does not make statements without ~
liable authority.
ebls ana entirely new type OF warshp
Which Is being constructed Tor the Ger
iran admiralty Tile design was first Of
iclod TO the British government, but he
yond bare Acknowledgment, no further
action was taken.
The new type is described as "speedier
than any drcadnousht. Ii lies low i'll the
water not much more than awaSh. and
1t fights end OH. 'Cae only target il pre-
sents 10 the enon,y's fire is a bow shield
siopins backward. and OF such shape and
thickness AS 10 he virtually impenetrablc.
Long-Rangc Fighting
lit serves as the carriage OF a single
gun OF maximum power, furnished with
projectles that play the part of aerial
torpedoes, ana tho gun remains per
retually screened. except at the moment
of nrlns
The vessel can keep tho sea in all
NeatherS and can night effectively at the
longest ranEcA twenty ot these de
stroyers can be built for the cost OF
single superintendent. and the I;c,
reason, that q uper-drcadnousht must
inevitably succumb ii attacked 10y even
tive OF such small craft
1t is stated by tho wrtcI or the article
IN the Engineer that the attention or
the British government was drawn to
this type in a letter sent TO Mr. Asquith
some four Years ago on behalf OF
group of continental engineers. who had
been made acquainted with certain de-
sign prepared conjoinuy 10y Tic late Sir
ltdward Reed "a former chief constructor
or the navy and the writer Of the article.
Rejected by England
This design was prepared in 1854. and
The design IN accordance with the prog
1ess Of naval architecture and armament
between ISL and 1909, and had also taken
part in the development OF submarine
Vessels for naval purposes.
Mr Asquth formally acknowledged
tile receipt OF the letter says the
writer, and there the matter dropped
80 far a. England was concerned.
\ dihcrcnt tate, however, awaited an
analogous communication addressed by
Ihe same group OF engineers TO a very
nigh quarter I'm Germany Action there
upon WAS at once aiken under conditions
OF most profound secrecy. which have
hccn successfully maintained for nearly
four wears,
MATTERS nayc nov rca chcd develop
,uent ~ such magnitude. however adds
the writer, that certain particulars OF
what Germany is doing have begun 10
leak out.
lie considers that in view OF the ostute
attitude that has gust been taken up by
Grand Admiral Won Tirpi,z. il seems dc
sirabo Tor the British public 10 he given
I'm linking OF the true state or affairs
The German dreadnoushts he declares
10 be ruse.
Destroyers' Value
They loom large in popular ostma-
tion--and, 1t j. feared, in that Of the
British admiralty also--as the ire: line %
battle; but I'm reality thev are intended
20 play secondary part Tho stress Of
conflict will lie with the German destroy.
crs AND submarines.
III regard to submarines the writer
makes the equally startling assertion
that German -'.physgaIi Of cmincnce
has invented o. way of bottinE UP hight
and rcdistroutius II round a submerged
submarine. In tho daytime. when the
surface OF tho water is absorbing lisht.
these rays can bc caught up and recon
Noited into light under the sea to enable
The commander Of the submerged sub
marine TO see his way fairly we'll This
means. lie claims, that German sub
marines can be employed Tor relatively
distant expeditions without detection. Is
they need now show themselves ia the
daytime. and can wait for night before
coming 10 the surface to renew their
stock OF air