The Washington times., 1915-10-14

Naval calculations have been consid-
erably upset by this discovery. The
United States is better postured 10
utilize old and slow-sailing vessels than
perhaps any other power. because pre-
sumably this country will not be en-
gagged In offensive war. which necessi-
tntes the very best armament. But
even for offensive purposes England and
France have developed that they can
urc the semi obsolete ships They have
sent to the Dardanelles the old vessels.
rius the battle cruisers Of the Queen
Elizabeth class. to conduct the most
difficult naval offensive that has been
undertaken With modern instruments
The really up-to- date battleships of tho
British navy are snuggled away In
little roadstcad in the Orkney Islands.
of the north OF Scotland, waiting for
the day when perh1ps the German feet
may come far enough out from lleliso-
land to give q chance for battle.
True enough the naval authorities do
| not believe, now. that tina. day will ever
! come: but they guess thai II Ton'd
come II England did not Keep n nope
| lcssly ovcrpowering force ct hanu 10
guard the entrance to the Eorth sea
This is one Of the most important con-
alterations on which the Adminisfra-
| ticn Is basing Its naval program. ~ II
| calculated that two fleets. one OF s.rlct-
| ly now vessels OF the best modern type
| the other of the older craft, with less
| spe~d and power. may be made to serve
! the purposes Of this country very wen.
! A fleet should be n unity In the matter
! ~ speed and power. because the gar,
Of the whole Is dictated by the speeu
/ OF It's siowest vessel. Therefore. II Is
impossible In n practical way to utilize
| ancient ships Of ffteen knots with mod
ern ones OF twcnty-eight knots IN the
| same feet Consequently. the schene
IL to keep one fleet In the Atlantic. the IN,
| other in the Pacific: and observers VIII
be able to judge in which direcuon
| trouble Is esteemed most imminent py
| noting which fleet is. at given mo-
ment. In either ocean.
Outlines Are Premature.
| Tentative outlines OF the Adminisfra-
y lions naval program are und 'rs:ooo 10
be somewhat premature. For instance
II was said today on the best au.nority
,ha, tn, number OF fighting SHIPS TO
|, be built per year has not been dec'ded'
But the program is based on the gen.
cral idea OF building two batu"ships a
year, plus the proper complement OF
nuxil,arics that would be necessary IN
Ave years to produce properly bai-
anced naval force. This wouil prob
ably mean. in addition to the :wo first
class battleships. one battle cruiser.
Ther, is no rule In the naval code by
which to determine the proportionate
numbers OF battleships and battle crius-
crs thut ought to be maintained Some
navics have one proportion. others a
very different one. The renl point
seems to have been to build these units
with reference TO the powers against
which they w"r" aimed: ,. ,.
and Germany II Is supposed on the
basis Of ant"-hcllum inforration. has
eight Tho more suggestive point Is
that the United Stat"s has none al all.
This country. being dependent on a
naval appropriation measure passed by
each h!,nninl Congress. has never had
anytliE- lik" continuous naval pro-
suits Of the present discussion Of pre-
pnTeGnCsS is going to be the impress
. sion that will he made on the public
and the legislative mind. OF the i'm:
portunCc Of adopting program OF
some sort and then sticking to it
Future Most Uncertain.
There is one tremendous difficulty
about making an intelligent program at
this time. 1t Is. that any program
possibility of fighting some particular
power or powers at some time in the
future. 1t is inconceivable that there
will he war between this country and
Britain. Yet II n naval program were
made with reference to the possibility
of such a clash. II could be carried out
In a decade or two. and made to in
sure this country against attack even
by tho greatest of naval powers. Leav-
ing England out Of the consideration.
Germany and Japan come to mind as
the possible opponents. How does each
stand"
Rating of the Navies.
When the present war began Germany
had twenty modern battleships, the
United States eighteen. and Japan nine
Germany had eight cruiser battleships
the United States had ten armored
cruisers roughly corresponding. and ia
pan had five cruiser battlesh,ps.
Germany had twenty older battle
ships, the United States had twenty.
, two, and Japan had thirteen
+ Germany has nine irst-class cruisers
the United states had Ave. Japan had
3 twelve.
Germany had six second-clnss cruis.
ers. the United States had four. and
, Japan nine.
Beyond that 1t Is hardly worth while
to 80 because conditions have changed
so much.
But the main point is that Uncle Sam
has discovered an unexpected naval as
set In his ancient battleships. He had
more of them than any other power
except England. and they were popu.
larly supposed to be mere shadows OF
naval power, while the substance was
represented by modern dreadnaughts
and giant cruisers. The war has
changed all this.
= 1t will not be possible. unless n rrca,
naval battle shall take place, TO de-
5 terminc the relative efficiency OF the
old anu the now battleships But the
Dardanelles campaign and the great
'sieckAdiaE sntsypgSs Of the -SiiisS hAYi