The Washington herald., 1915-09-19
Naval Lessons of the War.

Naval Lessons OF the war.
Despite his responsibility majority leader
of the House of Representatives, Claude Kitchin,
of North Carolina, in announcing his opposition
to increases in the army and navy recently, has
made public argument based on false premises
The facts involved easily obtainable that
it is source of wonder that they escaped man
of Mr.. Kitchins discernment The logical conclu-
sions involved SO clear that it is question if
Mr.. Kitchin called logic to his aid at all in shaping
his argument.
In the form of question, he stated that three
German submarines have destroyed more than 10
per cent Of the big warship fleet of Great Britain
in addition to the destruction of merchant tonnage
The most reliable information is that Germany
went into this war with forty submarines and has
been building ever since; that Great Britain has
sunk them almost as fast as they have been built
that the British fleet is today stronger than at the
commencement of the war; that not one first line
ship OF the British fleet has been destroyed, and
that the British fleet today roams the I'M
scathed by submarine attack, transporting inn
bodies Of troops from and to all parts of the
world and that British commerce goes on today
in spite Of submarine operations.
Again, Mr. kitchin still affirming behind an
interrogation point, declares that one German sub
danelles to the bottom, driving the Struggling
crippled remnant of the allies fleet out" The fact
is that one German submarine did make its way to
the Dardanelles and before its presence became
known sank one ship and two smaller craft that
came to the rescue, and has since been able to do
no damage whatever that the allied fleet is neither
crippled nor driven off, and that it has met its
greatest losses, not from submarine attack but
from floating mines and shore batteries.
why don't the allies go in and destroy the
German fleet" Mr.. Kitchin asks, and replies to his
own question, Submarines and mines" The truth
is that Notifications supported by mines, and
not submarines, have kept the German fleet pro-
tcctcd from the allied fleet, just these same in
struments have kept the Russian fleet in the Baltic
protected from the German fleet. The outstanding
lesson OF the present war, and particularly OF the
Dardanelles' campaign has been that ships cannot
contend with efficient coast forthcations. These
statements based the authority OF high
ranking officer of the United States navy whose
business it has been to ascertain and apply the
naval lessons of the European
Submarines have developed a tremendous i'm
portancc as a weapon of opportunity and stealth
but every naval development. the logic of every
feature OF the present situation, shows that they
not only have not rendered the first line ship obso
lete, but have not materially impaired its useful
ness.
If the large force OF German and Austrian sub
marines could not prevent the tremendous
movements of troops from Canada and Aus
tralia to England and the Dardancles, from Eng
land to the Continent and from England and Italy
to the Dardanellcs-why is it reasonable to suppose
that American submarines unsupported by ade
quate navy of first line ships and other auxaries,
could prevent overseas expeditions and hostile
landings in this country?
The naval developments OF the European war
the freedom OF movement which allied warships
enjoy, the freedom of movement which troop
transports have had-havc proven conclusively that
proper vigilance the part of fast auxiaries with
fleets almost nulliy the defensive and often
sivc power OF strong submarine Gordon, can make
it possible for heavy attacking fleet to go where
it peascs and when it pleases SO long as it does
not come within range OF heavy shore batteries.
The principal the only assured military advantage
in the submarine, lies in surprise and stealth and
these advantages can be almost rullihed by precau-
tions already in use and which are certain to be
improved time advances. For this country
to conhnc its naval construction to submarines
would be suicidal.