New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-17
BIG GUNS KA|SER'S REPLY
PIanSfor Germany'S Super-PoW-
erfuI Navy Much Discussed.
BATTERIES 15-IN. CALIBRE
New Super readnoughts To
Be Vastly Superior to Those
of Great Britain.

Especial Correspondence 70 The Iriouhe
Berlin. Aug. THE decision 10 adopt e
Afteen-inch gun for the new German bat
tleships Just laid down has aroused a
great deal OF discussion among the arma-
ment experts. which has become espe-
ciany lively since the army bill is out OF
the way.
II Is only a few months since the an
nouncement that the three battleships be-
gun as part of last years programme
were n have fourteen-inch guns in their
main batteries Now. with another step
forward to ffteen-inch guns, the question
arises II the greater part Of the existing
German feet is to be "scrapped," as the
ships built ten years ago and "hlch
should be efficient fighting craft FOR an
o,har ten wears will be Of such COMPARE
+;,.. minor value beside the new super
Dreadnoughts.
The change 20 fifteen inches in the call
tra ~ the guns though adding only three
;,,chee IN tn diameter OF the old STAND
ard - twelve-inch projecties - heail'
doubles the weight, the Increase oelhe
from $50 pounds 10 l.672 POUNDS me
neretrative force is also largely increaseu'
I'd Il Is understood, though the details
are kent secret, that the explosion force
NJ the shell is more than doubled
with the Increase in the calibre OF t"o
r,oin batteries the design Of the German
sbins has been changed TO folio" me
American style. In the new SHIPS Tue
whole OF the heavy armament VIII DC
concentrated on the keel line. 4hls - III
tended both 10 counteract the tendency 10
roll and 10 leave all guns available IoI
bro,dside either TO port or starooaro' An
| o+har noint in the argument for the
oha,ge in design is the weight OF the
,ou, guns and their turrets' which VIII
I - more than double that OF the WE'VE
| inch guns and turrets.
Rut the point Of greatest interest," 10
.a,.ai critics is that Of the future OF the
! carroan navy and what is to become Oh
49, sbins composing the present feet II
has long been contended by the DeIiiiai ~.
hot their twelve-inch gun is superior u
,ha british gun Of the same calDre an"
~ increase In the British calibre 10
fo,,,,een inches brought their armament
-. on level with the German twelve
i..h Guns Now there are a Few eiu-
ems who say that the sudden change 10
afteen-Inch guns is an admission OF
rois,ska in the early contention ana equai
- ting that the earlier ships were IN
sufficiently armed. -
THE great majority. however point 10
| rocant statement by former member
., the Reicnstag that new demand lot
| . stranger navy Will be introduced III
! the Reichstag either next year OF tno
,o,r following. And in conjunction with
the accepted view that the shlps %
itgb,or armament will be comparauVeiy
,.a,vo1ess beside the new vessels WIN
efteen-inch guns and VIII nave 10 oe
ranlsced the decision 10 adopt the ne"
.rr,ament &c taken TO be Germany an
swer 10 the huge force gathered io' ''i''
yeor.s british naval manpuvres
II is pointed out that py Iai ."'
eroater mart Of this force is usually s'a-
toned in British waters. and II Is saiu
| that Germany in adapting the new gu"
/ &c only prohting by Mr.. Churcnilis Oh
/ iect lesson in British naval power ny
Manning new and super-powerIul ger
/ man navy