Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-06
YEARS NAVAL PROGRAM
NOT DEFINITELY FRAMED
Secretary of Navy and His Advisers
Still Have Matter Under
Consideration.
WILSON TO HAVE FINAL WORD
officials Hope for More Information
From War Zone Upon Which
United States Can Build With
Profit and Safety.

program to be presented to Congress- in
the light Of the lessons OF the European
war. has not been definitely framed not
withdrawing the fact that Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels and his advisors have
had the subject under consideration
continuously for months
The building plans for tho coming
year VIII not be completed until the
last moment. when, probably, President
Wilson will say tho final word as to
the number and type of ships the Navy
Department will request. Meanwhile.
Secretary Daniels hopes for more in
formation from the war zone upon
which the United States can build with
profit and safety.
So far, little information has been
received to aid the naval constructors.
All the belligerents are maintaining the
strictest secrecy to their plans or
the lessons they have drawn for them
selves from the few battles.
American naval attaches at London,
Paris and Berlin have had little OPP
portunity TO furnish enlightenine re-
ports. and there have been no foreign
observers aboard any Of the war fleets
at sea.
1t is said that the American attache
at Berlin has had opportunity to see
considerable Of the work going on in
German yards. but, IL SO, he has been
under the strictest intunctons not to
reveal what he has observed. even in
ofricial reports. during the continuance
Of the war.
The greatest question that has como
out OF the war is cons!dercd BY many
American naval officers 20 be the future
OF the Dreadnought. So far ms is
known. not a single capital ship has
been engaged, and the value of those
enormously expensive fighting machines
is still a 8 problematical as II was when
England launched the nrst al-big- gun
ship, the Drendnought England's new
est super Dreadnought. the Queen
Elizabeth. has bombardcd the forts at
the Dardanelles; but far as Navy
Department advices go. she is the only
ship OF her class TO have fred shot
so far.
The reason for that, navy officers say.
is the full realization of predictions
made for submarines when the first
undersea boat was constructed. Against
those small and comparatively incxpen-
sire weapons adequate means o,
defense has been found. and the first
line ships OF the fighting navics are
behind mine fields or screens OF torpedo
boats and destroyers leaving the active
work Of the war to the older pre-D Dread
'oHehI battieshlps, the battle cruisers
and lighter and less expensive craft
SUPERIORITY OF SUBMARINES
PROVED BY EUROPEAN WAR
When the first maneuvers OF the
American navy in which submarines
participated took place some officers
declared the day OF the hattlcshlp had
passed. In theory, every big ship which
approached shore during those opera
lions ,bo
European war. so far as they are
known. apparently hear out that as
sumption OF tho superiority of subrna-
rines. and that is proving "A vcxinr
problem in deciding what shall be tho
future American policy OF naval con-
struction.
Navy engineers now are deeply en-
gagged with experiments looking TO the
discovery Of some practical defense
against submarine attack Should they
find a solution of the problem the big
ship program will he indicated.
While nothing has been revealed Of
their experiments. il is assumed that
questions of greater subdivision of
hullS and stronger bulkhcads OF armor
to extend about the midship sections
or battleships below the waterline and
capable OF resisting the blow OF a
modern torpedo. and also the location
OF submarines at considerable dis
lance and their pursuit by swift, light,
easily handled craft, such as destroyers
are being considered. The latter de-
tense is the only practical one which
seems TO have met with any success
abroad. SO far as is known. yet officers
mere point out that, at best, il Is like
searching for needle in haystack
and that the destroyer defense does not
meet the problem in anything like an
adequate way
Location and destruction OF subma
rines by aeroplanes also is considered
impractical in any but special cases
~here weather depth Of water and
other conditions make it possible.
bomo dropping from aeroplanes. even
over far-reaching land Notifications
and other easily visible stationary OBJ
oects, has not proven so successful as
TO give much promise where small.
dimly visible shape beneath the surface
or the water is the target
COMMANDERS NEED POWER
OF UNDERWATER VISION
Similarly. submarine against subma-
rine is not considered possible de-
relopment Of undersea warfare unless
some new startling device to give sub
marine commanders the power Of un-
derwater vision is discovered A sub
marine Is blind thing. once its peri
scope Is below the surface One of
the novel exploits OF the war, however,
was the sinking OF an Italian subma
rine by an Austrian underwater boat.
The reports of the encounter, however.
were not sufficiently complete to indi
cate the value Of that sort of warfare.
The result Of the DEVELOPMENT of
the submarine with widening range of
action, mounting disappearing guns
for surface action. and with increasing
numbers Of torpedo tubes, as shown by
reports from Europe. has been to create
school of navy officers here who are
said to be urging the abandonment Of