The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-04-02
Newest Type of Sea Fighting
Machine Is a Combination Of
Dreadnought and Armored
Cruiser-None In United States
Navy.

wv HEN the naval boards OF
" strategy. gray bearded and
gray haired pupils in the
school of war, sit down to
con the lessons Of the Great War they
Will give most respectful attention to
the achievements Of the battle cruis-
Frs. These monster vessels, unknown
and untried quantities on the sea of
conflict before August, 1914. have
proved their value. They have "made
good Unless the hydroaeroplane, the
heroplane and the submarine consign
all armOred vessels and their plans to
The limbo Of the naval museums.
which seems unlikely. every naval ex-
pert must hereafter include in his cal
Goeben. German. and the Tiger and
Lion, British. They are distinctly the
ships OF the future.
Uncle Sam. VIGOROUSLY slow in adopt
ing new naval ideas, although he gets
the best when he makes up his mind.
has no battle cruisers. Largely owing
to this lack the American navy, for
merly ranked third or even second
among the worlds sea fighting forces.
has fallen now, in the estimation of
experts. to fourth place. But the near
future Will see the stars and stripes
n.ylng over at least two battle cruisers
OF the latest. biggest and most advanc-
ed type. Congress awoke recently to
the fact that without tremendously
large and very fast fighting ships the
navy runS serious risk OF being fatally
weakened.
Americans Admired the MoItke.
The lawmakers waited for the battle
cruisers to prove their value on the
battle swept waters of the North sea
before Incorporating vessels of their
type IN the American navy. Other ma
Vles have had battle cruisers on their
lists for several years. In 1912 the
Moltke, a German battle cruiser. visit
ed New York. She aroused immense
interest. and the hope was expressed
on many sides that America would
soon possess vessels of her type.
The exploits of the British battle
cruisers in the battle in the North sea,
when the German battle cruiser Blue
cher was sunk in a fight with the
British by the cruisers Tiger. Lion and
b vessels (other German battle
cruisers e%scaping), We're used in the
uebate on b naval bill in Washing
ton as an argument for authorization
In the budget Of at least two vessels OF
this particular type.
Representative Hobson of Alabama
a member of the naval committee. sait
that at a meeting of the naval commit
tee when the navy bill was being con
sidered he offered an amendment pro
viding for two battle cruisers. This
amendment was defeated. Mr.. Hob
son said that the British fleet SAM
the Bluecher because of greater speed
and higher power OF the guns.
1T is APPARENT said Mr.. Hobson
that power and speed will win tn,
sea BATTLES Of the future. We shout,
take heed of the lesson taught by III,
North sea fight"
According to the latest compilations
Great Britain had ten battle cruiser,
built. hnilding OF planned at the he
ginning of the war. The names of tn,
vessels are Tiger. Queen Mary. l'rin
cess Royal. Lion. New Zealand. In
degatigable. lnvincihle. InicXihle an,
Indomitable, and they range in SiZ
from $4,000 tons for the Tiger and sis
ter ships to l7.2ou tons for the In
vincible, ln1eXible and lndomitable