The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-28
War Game Shows Craft An
tiquated and of Faulty
Type.
WILL ORDER INQUIRY
TO BUILD UP FLEET
Six of - Undersea Boats
Break DOwn-Bids for %
New Ones Next Week.

WASHINGTON. May 2I.-Secretary OF
me Navy Daniels surprised Washington
tonight by virtually corroborating the
assertions made before the House Com
ui,,ec on Naval Affairs last winter by
Commander stirling that the submarines
o. the Atlantic iotilla were as a whole
faulty In type and workmanship and un-
A. for service in case of emergency.
Mr. Danclss statement also tends 10
support the charge made by Represen-
ta,lye Gardner of Massachusetts that
sx Of the twelve submarines assigned
70 the recent war games were unable
70 perform service and had to put in for
repairs at various times In the course
Of maneuvres.
For the first time Secretary Daniels
admitted publicly to-day that the sub
marines in the Atlantic fotilla are
detective in many respects, and he took
occasion TO announce that 1t is his pur-
pose to make an inquiry with "A view TO
assisting in perfecting submarines for
use by the American navy.
Changes His View.
To-day's statement Is In striking con-
tras' 10 an announcement made by Sec
retary Daniels on May ! IN which he
pointed with pride to the fact that the
second and fourth divisions OF the At
lan,c ho;illa had arrived at New York
from Pensacola, Fla, after "one OF the
longest steady runs ever accomplished
by American submarines" Secretary
Daniels said then that this run was the
answer to the charge made last fall that
he submarines of the second division
were In ''unseaworthy condition.
In his statement to-day the Secretary
Of the Navy refers to the TOO frequent
breakdown of subna rines" and says he
Is determined II possible to ascertain the
cause and nnd remedy TO prevent ac-
cldcn,s that have from time to time put
American submarines out of commits
sion.
Mr. Daniels took occasion TO announce
that bids will be invited next week for
the construction of twenty-five sub
marines authorized by the SiNty-third
Congress OF these Two are TO be sea-
gs.s submarines. which. Mr.. Daniels
said, I'VE are going to try and make the
last word in such craft"
Ne~ds Much Attention.
with the growing importance of the
submarine as IN instrument OF war
fare" said the Secretary, II feel that
TOO mu h attention cannot be paid to
this branch of the service. and every
effort OF the Department will be directed
10 improving the records made by the
submarines during the recent maneu-
yres.
The submarine is still In an expert
mental stage and the boat Of two years
ago, as compared with those now in
active service abroad, Is probably more
comparatively obsolete than an automo-
bile Of three years ago would be to-day.
as the Improvement in the design and
building of submarines here as well
as abroad has been even more rapid than
In the case OF motor vehicles.
"of the twelve submarines which went
70 New York for the manHuvres. one
vas unable TO proceed and various others
suffered from breakdowns necessitating
repairs of greater or less Importance
which took them out of the game for
varying lengths Of time.
The full reports are not in and 1t 10
impossible 10 name which boats were out
Of commission from serious causes and
which had merely the usual trivial de-
fects which must be expected at any
lime and which can be remedied without
any serious delay or impairment of their
efficiency, Reports, unofficial. give
number varying from five to seven as
the total submarines effective during
aeertain period OF the maneuvres."
Efforts 70 Improve Craft.
Mr.. Daniels discussed at length the
delicate machinery installed in sub
marines and efforts that are in progress
TO Improve such equipment.
What ] am most interested in" he
sad, is in finding out whether these
oreakdowns are such as must be cx-
ected in more or less experimental
coats or whether they were due to
faults Of construction that should have
been remcdied, or to defects in our sys-
ZEN Of reporting and making repairs.
1T Is my intention 10 Immediately
investigate this matter and to spare
10 effort 10 remedy anything which is
possible Of being remrdied. ! have had
u''s intention for some time, but have
waited In this matter for the results or
We actual tests under war conditions
N'ore maFAg any announcement. as
! Considered that was the best PROOF az
" whether or not these boats were
edpablc Of sustained service.
In some cases the breakdowns are
PROBABLY due to imperfect design owing
% the lack of data at the time at which
lae boats were built. This would be
Mrticulary true OF the Eel and E-2,
which have been mentioned as having
efeakdowns, as they were the first boats
sulit after the change from gasolene 10
neavy oil engines One Of the X boats
spears 10 have been In trouble also,
out none Of this class has been finally
sccepted by the Department as being
satisfactory, the builders still being
responsible for their effective perform
ance.
PIsns for New Craft. 49,.
In the meanwhile the plans for the
twenty-five neW submarines authorised
the SlXty-third Congress are being
Nsn-d with all possible speed and am
ueatly pleased with the rapid and EN-
.'ehf work Of the bureaus Of consfruc-
Won and repairs and steam engineering
70 this matter. Bids will he Invited tor
'"er ac'ua! construction next week.
ihese boats include two more OF the
NV seagoing submarines, which we arc
so'ng TO try and make the last word
such craft. It must not be forgotten
:. Continued on Third Psss.
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