The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-27
National Defense Problems
81 Egedar1c ]. Haakin.
K..Leasons Of the TNar..6aktle1hips

J =
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The importance Of this dominance
Iok the seas - pointed ont by the ex
perts when they say that, 6 the cen
tral nations should defeat Russia and
France and al their continental enc
mics, they would still be blocked on
from world commerce and would sui
fer more from continuation Oh the
struggle than would Great Britain
Only big ships would bring Them re-
The fighting between ships Of the
navies OF the warning nations has
been chiefly among the smaller units,
the cruisers. In all Of those contests
the victory has been won by the yes
sci that carried the biggest guns. The
Jsix-inch gun has dominated the four
inch and has In turn gone down be-
fore that OF larger caliber. Speed
has proved itself or importance chief
" In running away and the results OF
the war would indicate that 1t was
ously thought. It is not Of great of
fensive value.
Biggest Guns Survive.
As far back as 1903 the General
Board of Navy recommended that q
continuing plan OF construction be
adopted that would produce, by 1919,
la battleship feet of forty-eight big
ships and smaller craft in proportion.
beginning at that time 1t would have
been necessary to build two big ships
each year to accomplish that end.
Congress failed to keep pace with this
plan. 1t appropriated some years for
two battlesh1ps and some years for
one
The General Board still held that
its plan to look to the future and pro-
vide navy of a given size at time
was the correct one. 1t therefore
recomm ended the building Of an addi-
tional ship on years following provi-
sion for laying down but one So 1t
came to ask for as many as four ships
in q year. AT present the building
plan OF the experts is behind by the
matter of eight ships. There are now
thirty-two battleships in the first line.
1t would be necessary, that the plan
lied, that battleship production be
very materially speeded up.
Holds to Same Idea.
The General Board mas made the
same recommendation each year since
1908 It's membership has changed
over and over again, its guiding gen
fuses have come and gone, secretaries
administrations parties, have assumed
authority and given it up. but the
General Board, the Official expert body
to whom the task of determining the
size of navy needed is delegated, has
remained constant In its belief that
the plan laid down should be fol
lowed.
Expert observers and naval attaches
abroad have exerted every energy to
learn the lessons of the European
war and have reported in minute de
tail to the home government The
bureau of intelligence of the Navy DE
partment has operated as Its clearing
house. The General Board has
weighed all facts that have been de-
veloped.
Now the President has asked the
Secretary Of Navy to make to him
report of the needs of the Navy dn
past year. The Secretary Will rely
on his experts and those men will
repeat the advice that they have given
each year since 1903. There is, they
will say. nothing in the present con-
fict that disproves the correctness OF
their old position. The nation should
have forty-eight battleships in 1919
and the necessary auxilfaries to make
up well balanced feet.
The second element in well bal
anced fleet, in the opinion OF the Cen
eral Board, is the destroyer When
ever a battleship is put into commits
sion four destroyers should accom-
pany it. These are the scouts OF the
feet. the screens of the dreadnaughts.
They do the work that is performed
by battle cruisers in Soe navfes of
Europe, for the American fleet man
ages to get along without cruisers be-
cause they are not so nearly 1ndts-
pensable as are batt1eships or detroy-
ers and there is no money for trim
mings.
The United States nowshas building
few great. sea-going submarines
that are believed to be the most ambi-
tious machine of the kind in the world.
The nation OF the west usually leaps to
the ultimate of the possibilities of a
new development much quicker than
do European countries. In addition
nearly q score OF coast defense sub
marines are now being built THESE
are of a much smaller type and are
not intended to attempt the very diff
fcult feat Of operating with the Meet.
View Is Unchanged.
The General Board has not changed
its view since 1t made its last official
declaratiin on the character of the
fleet. which was as follows:
an the matter of battleships the
General Board remains of the opinion
that it has always held. that com
mand Of the seas can only be gained
and held by vessels that can take and
keep the sea In all times and IN all
weatf,ers. and overcome the strongest
enemy vessels that may be brought
apainst them. Other types are valu-
able and have their particular uses.
ali of which are indispensable, but
limited In character.
The sea elephant uses IS trunk to
seize its prey and to tarnsfer FOOD to
ia mouth Just as does its brother