Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-30
CRITICS RUSH INTO FRAY
WITH RENEWED vlaoR
Aeesss Danisls Of Putting Out STATE
mont For Political Erect - Ignores
Testimony Of Naval OFFICERS yaIueh
70 ss Heard u Naval Preparedness
Before Next Session Enda

iels commencing in high terms what
has been achieved in his own adminis-
tration and seeking to demonstrate that
the navy is well prepared. has merely
served to add fuel to the flames.
Critics Of the navy have not been
lulled by the statement Of Secretary
Daniels. On the other hand, they are
rushing forth to the fray II anything,
more savasely than ever. They are
accusing tho secretary. Of putting ou,
statement for political effect and in
that statement ignoring the testimony
IT such experts az Rear Admiral F1ske
and Commander Yates Stirling before
she house naval committee.
To Become Live Question.
It 70 likely q good deal more will be
heard Of this question Of naval pre-
1aredness between now and the close
Of the next session Of congress-. This
will be the case especially II the war in
europe keeps up or II the war ended,
II u definitely disclosed that Europe is
going ahead with its policy of big ar
maments. Congress. or strong elements
= a congress, will insist on going fully
into the question OF just how well the
navy h prepared and in what respects
1t - lacking
The coming inquiry into the loss Of
the submarine F'-4 of Honolulu Is one
Of the things that Is relied on to throw
light on the condition in which the SUBJ
marines Of the navy are. This disaster
g generally taken to prove what Com
mander Stirling said about the inefIic-
.ency OF the submarines in the naval
service.
Lack OF the navy in battle cruisers,
such az other navies have found so eff
fective. Is one feature Of unprepared-
ness which many Of the experts emph-
size.
Electric Power on Big Ships.
Following on the announcement Of
Secretary Daniels that for the first
time electric driving apparatus IS to
be installed In a battleship and that
the experiment will be tried on the new
California, experts of the navy depart
ment added today some Interesting de-
tails concerning the machinery. Tho
main purpose of using electric machln-
cry is to overcome the drawback that
Ifie turbine to be most proficient must
..,in at high speed. while the screw pro-
pelier to be most efficient must run at
comparatively low speed. Another
drawback Is that the turbine frequent
" develops 40 per cont Of its power in
backing. The electric drive will over
come some Of these disadvantages.
The plant Of the California" said a
naval expert today. will consist Of
boilers exactly the same a. in steam.
driven ship and will burn oil fuel.
These boilers furnish !. the steam. to
drive the turbines at very high speed
which In turn drive the generators or
dynamos to make electricity. This cleo
tricity IL then led by wires to slow
speed motors on the propeller shafts"
In order to back. the turbines and
generators continue to run in their
ahead direction, all the time making
electricity but the motors driving the
propellers, arc reversed by changing
electric switches so that there is full
power backing as well as ahead"
The plant will develop upwards Of
10000 horsepower It IL said that for
war purposes, the electric machinery
will stand more damage than q steam
plant. since there viii be two motors
and four generators. each in separate
room. II the room Of one motor or
even tho rooms Of ono motor and OF
two generators are flooded by explos-
ion Of shells or torpedoes. there would
still BE- left ample apparatus to make
good speed.
Naval experts say the experiment
will be watched with profound interest
turnout tho worlds navies and among
electricians everywhere.