Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-04
BRITAIN'S SUCCESSFUL FIGHTING
Of SUBMARINES RE0RcAN|zInc
AMERICAN NAVAL POLICY AND
RETURNING BIG SHIPS TO FAVOR

Washington, OCT. Zine American
naval policy for the coming year, ten
tative plans for which recognized the
sudden development of submarine war
fare with provision for a large num-
Der Of undersea boats. viii be broad
~ affected by the British admiralty's
development Of successful means for
combating the submarine peril
Confidential reports to the United
States government disclosing that the
destruction Of from 50 To 20 German
submarines had been effected by the
use Of nets, submarine telephones and
new types Of mines and by covering the
submarine area with a feet OF hum
dreds Of high speed motor boats arm
ed with rapid fire guns. have fulhlled
the conviction OF American naval ex-
perts that means would be found TO
combat successfully undersea warfare.
Likewise the reports have re-af-
firned the faith of American experts
in the all-big-gun ship. the dread
nought, as the effective fighting force
II any navy.
More Big Ships
one immediate development OF this
newest lesson drawn from the Euro
pean war probably will be provision
in the new naval bill for continued ad-
ditions to the dreadnought feet, in
stead Of building submarines on such
an extensive scale as had been sug-
eested.
L, is plain, however. that the develop
nent Of successful means of repelling
submarine warfare will not mean the
abandonment of substantial additions TO
the American submarine feet. Now that
successful means of combating the
submarine have been discovered. STRAIT
egists feel that the naval defence Of the
coasts OF the United States still rests
where they have always contended II mas
on the big gun feet. They feel. too.
that while the navy should be equipped
adequately with submersibles. the next
development to provide means OF repeli-
ing submarine invaders. as has been done
in Europe, Is to carry out logical, pro-
gressfve building policy for the big feet
along the lines laid down by the navy
general board, which stands for IS hrst
line dreadnoughts by 800.
Various means for developing defence
against submarines now are being tested
In the American navy. All these expert
uents are of a most confidential char
acter. but it is known that the best ex-
perts of the technical corps are working
on new ideas in mines, nets. and SUD-
marine telephones.
Plans for the two new Dread
noughts authorized by the last Con-
gress include means OF de1ence
against submarines which probably
are not known to any Of the Euro
pean navies, and in the shallow waters
of the Atlantic coast adjacent TO
large cities. whose harbors might pos
sibly be the targets Of submarine in
yaders. experiments constantly are De-
ing carried on Obviously the nature
Of these will not be disclosed by the
navy department..
Naval experts consider that mo-
snuito feet. such as Great Britain mas
developed might be created In the
United States, either by building d
number Of such craft for the navy, or
by organizing the thousands or pm
yatelv owned yachts. motor boats ana
launches along the coasts in a reserve
defence feet. One such plan FOR the
later DEVELOPMENT includes registration
of all such craft with the navy de-
partnlent. so that their assignment
and armament would be a compare
lively quick proceeding.