Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-09-17
RADICAL CHANGES IN
SUBMARINE TYPES
New Models Are Being
Worked Out By Naval
Constructor
BY Bond P. eeddss.


Omitted Press Staff CGrespondent.)
Washington, Sept. l6.-RadicaI
changes in the type Of new submarine:
to be built for Uncle Sam : navy are
being worked out by the chief naval
eoIstructW. Navy officials admitted
today that some new wrinkles in sub.
mersibles probably would be adopted
when congress authorizes the proposed
new fleet Of undersea craft which will
represent the latest thought in such
construction.
Especial attention IS being given,
Secretary Daniels states, to the ques-
ton of submarine construction. 4 corps
of experts, at home and abroad, are
collecting information 10 be assimilat
ed in the next new L. 5. submarine.
Electric propulsion is the latest in
submarines, according TO the present
determination of the naval construct
ors. 1t is probable that electric motors
may be used exclusively in the future.
Naval authorities also contemplate d.
vesting the present fleet Of submarines
Of gas engines and substituting electric
power.
One difficulty in the way of L. s.
naval progress in building submarines
is the "patent monopoly" which con
flies this government to one type Of
submersible. This is the Lake type.
While other types with some most de-
sirable features are being built, Sec
retary Daniels says the government mas
never been able to reach satisfactory
terms with patentees of other subma
rines than the Lake variety. NegOti.
ations are in progress, however, by
which the government may be able to
adopt some of the more desirable fea
lures of other patterns.
The government would not be barred
from using the other submarine patents
in case the U. s. became involved in
war, however, according to Secretary
Daniels. He admitted that the gov.
ernment would not hesitate td appro. /.
pirate the submarine patents and use
them in building its own submarines
ia time of war. Compensation would .
be given the patentees, of course, or
they could resort to the courts-but
after the government had received the
benefit Of submersible patents The
government, according to Secretary
Daniels, would not hesitate TO adopt
such a policy, as matter of defense
in time Of national peril, without re.
gard to the contract and patent rights
Of patentees.
Secretary Daniels hopes that congress
will eventually authorize construction
)y the government itself of all of its
submarines. 1t is now building some
IN the Pacific coast, the only govern
ment plant at present equipped for sub
marine construction. These are of the
oil burning type
Speeding up" private contractors
On government submarine contracts is .
another innovation promised by the see. .
'etary. He will insist that contracts Civ.
IN private concerns stipulate quicker
delivery. The secretary believes that |
N the past contractors have been slow
about completing the government craft.
he cites the instance of the ill.fated .
F-4, which sank last Marca cntside
Honolulu narbOr. This boat was only
.wo years Old, having been commits
stoned in 1918, but five years elapsed |
before congress authorized her eonstruc. /
ion and the date, in 1913, when she
was delivered to the navy.
On the other hand, the Fore River
Construction company of Massachusetts
has Just completed ten electric submer.
iibles for one Of the allies in the record |
time Of eight months. They were or.
iered in January and are now lying
finished, in the ship yards at Quincy, |
Massachusetts. BY agreement with |
charles NJ. Schwab, who took the order
Tor one Of the allies, the boats will be
held in American waters until after the
war