Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-11-03
Or SUBMARINE
AS BETTER FIGHTING MACHINE

AT the first the Americans were sat
isfied with an lin. armored belt,
now they are satisfied with nothing
less than 16 inches. There were only
two torpedo tubes in the earlier ships, /
and some naval officers urged that
there should be more, now there are
four-all submerged-for the dis
charge of the 21-in torpedo with 300
pounds of high explosive, and range
of about 5000 yards.
Possibly the most remarkable feat
ure of the new battleships-which
will closely resemble the Pennsyl-
vania and her sister, now on the
stocks-is that, In spite of the doub-
ling of the displacement, there has
been little or no advance in speed;
though triple expansion engines have
been displaced by turbines. the rate
of steaming of the newest ships is
calculated TO be about twenty-one
knots only If the naval war has
proved-or seemed to prove-one
thing more than another, it is that
the defense of the big ship against
submarines lies in speed, speed,
speed. For this and other reasons
the tendency for high speed Id OBJ
4 servable in the design of the latest
I German ships, and yet the United
States. though it is building the most
colossal battleships in the world. re-
mains satisfied with rate of steam
ing not very much greater than that
OF the newest and best-equipped un-
derwater craft.
These two new battleships when
complete with stores and ammunition
and ready for commissioning, will
represent an expenditure of $l5,00O,-
900 each For this outlay the Ameri-
can navy will gain a broadside of
twenty-four 14.inch guns, throwing a
projectile of 1,40O pounds with a suf-
ficient force to penetrate twelve
inches of the hardest armor at near
ly two miles range Each gun repre-.
sents S750.000, calculating on the
basis of the broadside fire. 1t need
hardly be added that in these battle
ships, which will burn oil only by the
way, elaborate provision is being
made to protect them both from at
tack by submarines and bombs
. dropped from airships or seaplanes
The peril of the big ship is not ig
. nored a war is in progress which
, may show that it is greater than is
, thought-indeed. as great as Admiral
Sir Percy Scott declares-and yet
these level-headed Americans are in
vesting s1S,0OO,O00 in two of the big
: gest battleships ever dreamed of by
man. directly contrary to the view,
: of the moderate dimensions, and no
only that are giving them a speed
of only about 81 knots
: Some people are nervous as to thu
fate of our battleships in the war
he decision of the American naval OF
ficers who have studied submarine
longer than we have may give then
a measure of confidence. Moreover
our preponderance in submarine crai
: over Germany is rather greater tina
our margin OF strength in dreaC
:, noughts. So in any event, we seer
to be on the right side. We do we
to recollect that the only notable SUI
cesses of the German submarines |
: the past two months were achieve
= under favorable circumstances, whic
are not likely to recur. The time
(. not ripe for any dogmatic statement
as to the role of the submarine, d
:. spite Lieutenant Commander Ma
Horizons daring exploits, and evideu
I, ly American naval officers are st
:, unconvinced that the day of the ba
tleship is over