New-York tribune., 1915-12-27
NAVY USES OWN
SUBMARINE PLAN
Bids Hereafter Will Be
Asked on Basis of De
partment Designs.
UNDERWATER BOATS
BETTER THAN EVER
Development of Aeroplanes IN
Direction of Weight Carry
ing and Speed.

Washington. Dec. 26.-Bids for sub
marines for the United States navy
hereafter will be asked on the basis OF
plans prepared by the naval construe-
tors. Heretofore the navy merely has
asked for bids for submersibles TO per
form certain service, and the bidders
have furnished the plans. The old
practice Of submitting TO bidders only
the general requirements Of the navy
will be abandoned, but that will not
prevent bidders holding patents from
submitting alternative bids, and be-
tween the two the navy may make us
choice. The fact that progress in sub
marine construction has been made by
the navy's own constructors 70 permit
Of such a departure is disclosed in the
annual report Of Rear Admiral David
w. Taylor. chief Of the Bureau Of Con-
struction and Repair.
During the year." the report says
"there was begun a complete design
for the feet submarines authorized by
the last Congress. Although each
builder Of submarines has many pat
ents. the patents will not constitute a
bar 10 preparation Of designs by the
department. It is true that the design
inc and building of submarines Is a
specialtv that REQUIRES experience. but
we now have in the navy adequate ex-
reriencc in this connection
The design completed by the bureau
was that of the Schley, the big fleet
submarine now building at the Fore
River Yard. Quincy, Mass. and which
will be commissioned in the spring OF
1918. In addition the department j.
preparing plans for two other even
larger underwater craft, probably 70
displace 1900 10 1900 tons, which were
authorized this year.
Better Submarine Service.
or the reorganization Of the subma-
r;ne service Rear Admiral Taylor says:
"The recently inaugurated change III
tho administration of the submarines
of the fleet is working very well. The
bureau no longer receives general alle-
cations of worthlessness with no help
full suggestions, but is furnished den
mite statement as TO what troubles
have occurred and valuable suggestions
for Improvement Progress under such
conditions is certain and rapid
Rear Admiral Taylor mentions the
eyneriments made in search Of ade-
ouate defence for battleships against
submarine and aeroplane attacks, ana
adds that specifications for the SHIPS
next TO be purchased have been mate
rally improved" Details or changes
in construction are regarded as conf
dental.
The report shows that bureau expert
ments have resulted in the substitu-
ton Of cheaper nickel steel for the
usual expensive special treatment
metal on the battleship California, just
laid down at the New York Navy Yard.
The change will give "the same or
greater efficiency" the report adds.
The various activities OF the bureau
ere we'll shown in the report in dealing
with the model basin. where hull de
signs are tested. the wind tunnel, where
aeroplane experiments are made. and
other experimental equipment. Twen-
" per cent of the work done last year
in the model basin was for private
shipbuilders, who are learning OF the
advantage this adjunct Of the navy has
been to its designers. A device 10 sim
ulate storm conditions and wave mo-
tions is being installed In the tank.
Making Larger Aeroplanes.
"The development Of the aeroplane," p"
the report says, "seems to be IN the
direction Of larger weight capacity and
greater speed, and in this respect is
repeating the history Of the develop
ment OF warships."
The department has designed and be-
gun construction Of an aeroplane TO
carry 2,200 pounds as a means TO de-
velop knowledge Of this subject among
It's engineers.
The report points out the high stand
ard OF efficiency made by bureau en-
ployes. No vessel designed by the navy
has shown overweight during the last
twelve years-s record no private COM
pany nor tho designers Of any other
government have equalled. Rerating
of bureau employees is asked, that some
hope Of Advancement may be given
them, and an increase In personnel TO
do away with the voluntary overtime
the report declares they have cheer
fully rendered. The case of n con-
structor a. one Of the navy yards who
has been forced for months to work
twelve hours every day, including Sun
days. is cited as showing the short
handed condition of the force, while
the naval establishment has been stead
lily increasing.