The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-01

ONE OF THE K SUBMARINES.
Rear Admiral Bradley Fiske. former
aid for operations, who has represent
ed prominently during this administra-
ton the ideas of the progressive and
reform element in the naval service.
Admiral Fiske resigned as aid for
operations few weeks ago. but re-
Daniels selected an incumbent for the
new bureau Of operations. The new
chief of operations is Rear Admiral
William S. Benson. Admiral Fiske
recommended to the secretary the ac-
ceptance of the plans for the May war
game drawn up by the war college and
the general board. Admiral Fletcher
and Rear Admiral WinslOw, command
ing the war college, are both heartily
in favor of the new order.
One of the advantages OF the new
scheme is that 1t will undoubtedly
result in the better education OF the
naval service with regard to war and
its strategy. At present the command
er in chief and his STAFF by making
up the war game deprived themselves
of participation. inasmuch as they know
all about both sides of the game.
Under the new plan the commander
In chief will have to participate In the
game, as he will be given only such
knowledge as he would ordinarily have
In time OF war. Furthermore. the ad-
miral OF the feet and his STAFF have not
had the time to devote to the prepara-
ton OF war games, so that they nee
essarily have not been as scientifically
drawn as will be the case In the fu-
ture.
A second advantage seen in the new
plan is that each war game will have
relation to preceding ones Thus 1t
is believed there win be built up what
the United States navy has always
lacked, a. continuity of policy with re-
spect to war preparations. It is be-
lieved also that the usefulness OF the
war games and strategical exercises
can be expanded by having them pre-
pared by groups of expert officers In
position to give special attention to
them.
Real War Experience.
But what is considered the greatest
advantage is that there will be built up
under the new plan a body OF officers
who will be doing I'm time of peace
just what some one in the navy would
have to do in case the United States
were at war. 1t is expected that the
war plan section of the general board
will be enlarged and the work Of the
war college be brought into closer CO.
operation with the feet and with the
bureau of operations, so that all ele-
ments necessary to operation Of the
feet in actual war win be working
tremendously in time of peace.
With the new methods in operation
it Is declared that all the navy will
lack In the way OF organization for
war will be the coordination OF the
elements concerned with the material,
construction and supply Of the feet
with the elements having to do with
its operation.
No type OF naval craft has figured so
prominently in the present great con-
flict In Europe as has the submarine,
aud for that reason 1t is safe to say
that no ships In the recent review In
the Hudson attracted more attention
than the little underwater fighters of
the Atlantic submarine fiotilla. under
Commander Yates Stirling, Jr. Some
OF these little battleship wreckers sail
ed more than 100 miles under their
own power in order 10 appear In the
presidential review. a feat that is In
Itself a record breaker for vessels OF
their type.
At its various navy yards the United
States government Is building some
more big submarines amid great Sc
crecy They are known as the X class.
and they are the newest aud most
powerful OF the underwater craft In
our waters. or four vessels In this
class K-1 and K-2 each cost $469, 600.
and K-5 and K-6 cost S4TS.O00 each.
The commanders Of these four are
Lieutenant Lucins g. Dunn. LIeuten-
ant Tiadford Moses. Lieutenant Hol-
brook Gibson and Lieutenant Joseph
q Fisher There are slght KS 10 al.