New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-23
KAISER WILL BE
VICTOR In WAR,
BOWLES IS SURE
u. S. Admiral Returns
from Germany Confident
of German Success.
HE STILL BELIEVES
IN BIG WARSHlPS
Saw North Sea Submarines and
Says They Are Not Better
than American Ones,

Francis T. Bowles, former rear sd-
miral, L. s. ", and former president
and chief constructor Of the Fore River
Shin Building Company, arrived last
night from Rotterdam on the holland
America liner Rotterdam, after hur-
ried trip TO Germany on business
which he said was private.
Admiral Bowles. though retired from
active work, is still director OF the
Fore River company. He went abroad
December II on mission when tooK
him to Berlin, Dresden, Bremen, Ham
burg, Cologne and other cities: he de-
clared last night he was confident Ger
many would be the victor in the Euro
pean conflict
He politely declined to give his res-
sons for such belief, but II was clear
that from what he had observed ana
had learned from inner sources that
his ideas concerning German success
seemed to him well founded. :,
While abroad Admiral Bowles had
entry TO many things that gave him an
insight into the actual work and
methods employed by the German sub
marines, and he expressed the opinion
that, as whole, they were not much
better nor more capable than those or
the United States navy. lie also eN-
pressed the belief that the submarine
would not supplant or modify to any
great degree the efficacy Of dread
noughts or battle cruisers.
His Opinions Important.
As he was the head Of the Bureau of
Construction of the United States Navy
and subsequently had complete charge
of construction at the Fore River ship
yards, the Admiral's observations made
in Germany were considered to be OF
much importance.
Admiral Bowles, who designed the
first United States dreadnought. has
not lost faith in the big war vessel OF
heavy armament, but he said he be-
lieved the United States navy had made
q great mistake in neglecting the policy
Of building battle cruisers.
What effect will the submarine have
now upon warfare" he was asked.
81 think il will materially modify the
tactics of modern warfare"
as il likely TO decrease the impor-
lance Of battle feet?"
"No, it certainly will not decrease
the importance, the value or the neces-
sity of the battle feet. This war has
fully demonstrated the value OF the
battle cruiser as we'll as It has the
submarine. Our navy neglected an i'm
nortant feature in its development
when it failed, in 1902 and 1908, to con-
tinue its policy Of building battle
! cruisers"
| Asked If he considered the seagoing
submarine Of the Germans which trav-
elled 500 miles from its base an i'm
provement in submarine construction
Admiral Bowles said:
"No, | do not so consider II. Five
years ago we sent one Of our own sub,
marines from Boston TO Bermuda and
return. It was done perfectly. I'll tell
YOU why the German submarine man
aged to stay for three weeks from its
base. They are doing it simply enough
because they rest on the bottom in
the daytime. The German submarines
have an excellent, improved system OF
ventilation, which we also have
Anti-American Feeling Grows.
as resting on the bottom a new
thing?" he was asked.
"Well, you might say II is develop
ment Of channel warfare or fighting N
narrow waters"
Regarding the effect Of the present
warfare on sea upon the American
navy. Admiral Bowles said:
1.-THE result of this war will mean
/ the DEVELOPMENT of our navy along q
more rounded basis. One thing surely
/ has been demonstrated, and that Is
/ that the value and importance of gun
/ fire have not in the least been dlmin-
, ished.
/ 81 have observed in a way what the
/ German submarines have done, and
may say that our boats are capable OF
doing what they are doing"
/ The Fore River Shipbuilding Com
pany is subsidiary company of the
Bathlehem Steel Company, from which
Charles NJ. Schwab is shipping guns to
| Great Britain.
/ The admiral said he had been most
courteously treated during his visit tc
Germany, but observed before he left
a strong anti-American feeling.
I This attitude toward Americans Is
accommodating in considerable force.
he said. at il not alone against
Americans In Germany, but against the
American people. The feeling is not re
stricted TO castles or classes. 1t is gen
eral, might say universal, Throughout
the empire"