The Dermott news., 1915-01-21
ST|RS Up The NAVY
Battle in South Pacific Opens Up
Controversy
Efficiency Of Big Guns in Rough Sea
Is Subject Naval officers Must
Give Their Attention
to Soon.
BY EDWARD 3. CuAEK.

tSta0 Correspondent Western NowSp8r
tuiou1
Washington -AmeriCan naval o"--
Gers are showing deep interest in
the fairly complete report just re
ceived of the fight between the Cor
man and English squadrons in the
South Pacific. a fight which ended in
the defeat of the British and In the
sinking with a loss of all on board Of
the cruiser Good Hope There is
reason for the sharp interest OF the
American officers.
This first fight in the South seas be
tween German and English vessels
took place while gale of wind VAS
blowing and the sea was runnlnG
high. German reports as we'll as
those from smaller English cruisers
which escaped from the combat, We're
to the effect that the Good Hope could
not use its big guns because Of the
pitch of the ship in the high seas
During the latter days OF the Reese
welt administration a writer on naval
affairs said that some OF the American
cruisers. ships OF much the same t.pe
as that of the English Good Hope al
though the latter vessel was not men.
ton d or thought OF At the time, We're
so constructed that In high sea they
could not use their big guns efficient
ly This criticism aroused 4 lot Of at
tentien and some naval officers said
that II was not we'll based and others
said that It was entirely We'll based
one American ship which was men-
gina. OF which It was said with
sea running a more stable enemy's
shin with the Same armament and the
same guns could knock the American
10 pieces because the latter would
pitch so that her guns could not be
sighted accurately
Ono curious thing in connection
with this criticism was that Just be
fore the article appeared President
Roosevelt had taken a trip on the
West Virginia from the Mississippi
river below New Orleans around
Florida to Hampton roads. While on
the journey a gale came up and Ad
miral Brownson. who was in com
mand Of the West Virginia. took the
president on the bridge and said to
him Il want to show you how the
vessel behaves In a high sea anG also
TO show you that with conditions as
they are We can make good use OF our
guns"
II vas accounted singular that the
very ship which had been singled out
as type OF those which would be in
efficient In a high sea was the ship on
had seen under the conditions out.
lined Moreover. II was accounted a
coincidence that ADMIRAL Rrowuson.
without knowing anything OF the
forthcoming criticism, should have
made an answer 10 II In advance
II seems likely that complete
study OF the possibility OF the efficient
use OF the big guns on our warships
OF certain type viii be tested before
very long. in order that a point OF
controversy may be settled II il
should prove true that some OF our
ships cannot give a good account OF
themselves. even with a moderate sea
running there probably will be
change OF construction methods in
volviug u readjustment OF weights.
The navy just now is studying this
matter with a good deal Of interest,
attention. as has been said having
been drawn 10 II by the predicament
which the English ship Good Hope
found herself in when the more stable
German vessels met IL on the high
seas in gale OF wind