The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-18
Special Correspondence 10 THE SuS.

ROME, Jan 6.---Those who mourned the
fact that Gen. Vittorio Cuniberu, called
by the London Times the father OF the
dreadnought," had given the BEST years
OF his life and the fruit OF his genius
to Italian naval construction without due
recognition. had some satisfaction when
they learned that the Ministry OF Marine
adopted. two days after the death OF Gen.
Cuniberti. which occurred on December
20. the plans for the four new battleships
advocated by him and opposed for many
years by the naval experts.
Gen. Cuniberti, who vas tine first to
draw UP concrete plans for warshlps with
an armament of heavy guns and one of
the pioneers in advocating the use of gas
olens as fuel, was more highly appreciated
in foreign countries than In his own.
England recognized his genius and appro-
prlatcd his ideas. When Russia. after
her disastrous war with Japan. wanted TO
gst a new navy together Gen. Cuniberti
was the man selected for the task. IL
was called to Germany by the Kaiser to
lend his aid to the development OF the
navy Of Italy's ally. Japan too enlisted
his services In building up her sea de-
fences. II remained for Italy. the country
of his birth, to walt until after he was
dead to adopt the newest of his ideas.
Official Italy waited a. long time before
recognizing Cuniberti. but Italian naval
men had seen tho value OF his teachings
for many years. For this reason the
italian navy Is in mourning and the naval
constructors more than all others feel
that not only Italy but all nations Inter-
ested In the development OF sea defence
have lost one OF the most illustrlous fig
ures In that field.
neceivea Civil Euxinecr Dir,iOma
Born In Turin on June 6. 1854. Cunt
berti studied In the School of Applied Sci
ence In that city and received the diploma
OF civil engineer. Continuing his studies
In Turin he received the diploma OF con-
structive railroad engineer. Later he
took part in a Government competition OF
engineers and won his admission to the
Naval Engineering School of Genoa.
In that school he made his studies un-
der the celebrated Benedetto Brin, and
there he conceived the ideas which led him
to devote his life to naval projects.
Cuniberti was one Of the first to advo-
cate the use of gasolene as fuel for naval
vessels and II was thanks to his efforts
that It was adopted by the Italian navy.
The young engineer conceived a
blockade warship OF high speed and
heavy armament and submitted his plans
to tho Government. The Navy Depart
ment however. did not approve the
plan and the projected ship was never
constructed. but the idea gave birth TO
the modern scout cruiser which has
since been adopted by every big navy.
Battleship Plans Adopted.
Cuniberti was the man who originated
the plans for the tAttleships VittOrio
Emanuele. Regina Elena. Roma and
Napol These plans gave rise to an ami
mated discussion In naval circles, but Il
was finally admitted that they were an
admirable solution of the problem of
finding vessels Of high speed and heavy
armament for work In limited area.
This naval expert was also the first
to advocate the use Of large number
Of guns of large calibre on comparatively
small ships. This plan was commented
on In Jomes's Annual In England and re-
ceived wide approval. Cunberti was one
OF the principal factors In the develop
ment Of the turbine as q motive power,
and In ono Of his most recent articles In
the Revista Maritime he predicted that
all warships Of the future would be thus
equipped.
Russia Named lItm ~ Expert.
Cuniberti entered the competition opened
BY Russia for the selection Of . naval