The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-07-21
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.
Times Washington Bureau. No. z
Metropolitan Bank BUILDING.

mcVOpOltuN BANK bNtldtuQ.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., July I'll
The recent statement OF sir Percy
Scott one OF the
Batteship best known naval
Doomed2 authorities OF Eng
land 20 the effect
that the day OF the large and costly
tattleship is passing. and that the
submarine and aeroplane are taking
It's place, is creating no end OF com.
ment among the officials OF the navy
department who are now stationed in
Washington
Sir Percy Scott has perhaps won
more fame than any of the other
English admirals Of the present gen.
GRAFTON in the upbuilding OF a strong
navy. which relies chiefly on the very
instrument OF war whose period OF
usefulness he says Is now passing
Although his recent statements were
made after careful study they are op-
posed by most American naval offi
GERS who still believe that the dread
nought and superdreadnought will con
tinue 10 hold commanding places ia
the worlds great navies.
While men outside OF naval circles
for many years have been at a loss to
understand how the battleships In n
future war were going 10 withstand
the attacks OF submarines and aero
planes Sir Percy Scott Is the first
great naval authority 10 come forward
with a statement on the comparative
worthlessness OF huge hattleship
when combating enemies which are
dropping bombs from overhead. and
which may DC firing powerful torpe-
does from under the water at the
same time
Although officers OF the United
states navy have no desire to com
ment officially on Sir Percyhs state
ment, they are free in making express
sions privately Neither the airship
nor the submarine boat in The opinion
! OF the majority OF naval officers. has
been developed far enough 70 prove a
menace to battleships in actual war
fare The maneuyering ability OF a
submarine is very much restricted al
/ the present time, Il is said. and the
efficiency OF this type OF vessel in war
fare on the high seas is doubted by
naval officers Airships. too. they be
lieyn, are even worse handicapped be
cause OF their lack OF development
and besides II is believed that high
powered aerial guns viii he developed
which will cripple these navies OF the
air and make II impossible for them
20 carry on their attacks.
] Although most naval officers believe
that the hattleship for many years
will continue 10 be the principal tool
OF warfare carried on on the high seas
they admit that the tendency IS 70
ward the development OF a boat OF the
semisubmarine or submersible type
= his would be torpedo boat design
ed with a displacement OF 5000 TO g.,
75o tons and with a speed OF perhaps
2S knots per hour The new type OF
high-speed turbine engines and boilers
In which oil is used as fuel and other
mechanical improvements make II
possible TO develop a submersihle boat
OF good displacement and plenty oil
speed and still leave room for Tho
I fighting crew The speed with which
such a boat could work In conflict
with battleships would make II 2 dan
gerous enemy and hard 10 combat
4 Even n a chance shot should hit such
ia rapidly moving suhmorsible torpedo
boat penetration would be very doupr
/. ful becaTse Of the distance in the
water al which the boat would be sub
merged. and the chances would hc
! that the shot would glance off its
sides