The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-22

tect their navy from the submarine
menaoe II 10 apparent that the sub
marine 10 not an instrument fitted to
dominate naval warfare.
ut appears from British returns that
the first eight months Of this submarine
warfare against British commerce re-
suited In the loss OF 1s3 merchant YES
scas and IFS trawlers. The total British
merchant tonnage loss was not greatly
all na@ wal about $50. 900 tons.
"1n the same timc the total arrivals
and departures In British ports averaged
nom 1880 to 400 per week. or nearly
60, 900 In all. Allied commerce 10 con
tinuing tunder n loss In no way vital.
The submarine " q most useful auxiliary.
whose importance will no doubt increase.
but At present there Is no evidence that
u will become supreme.
."As to type Of ships the conclusion
to be drawn 90 far from the history OF
the current war IL that the battleship
10 still the principal reliance Of navies.
a. II has been in the past"
what the Programme Mean.
The General Board e~ntertains an idea
very different from Mr.. Daniels's 40 to
what will be the status Of the feet under
the I'VE year programme proposed. Ex-
planning that the number Of capital
ships which the board recommends Is
necessarily limited by the bounds fixed
by Secretary Daniels In his orders to
the board, the October report Of the ex-
perts estimates that by 1872? there will
be thirteen pre-dreadnoughts At for the
second line Of battle. nine superannuated
and three battleships. the Oregon, In
diana and Massachusetts,. authorized
twenty-five ear ago. ut only for har-
Dor defence work.
Secretary Daniels In his rcport and
President Wilson In his message 10 Con-
gress grouped all these ships together
and stated that in 1922 there would be
twenty-five battlesh!ps At for the second
line Of battle.
Daniels and President Wilson state that
Administration there would be built or
building twenty-seven ~dreadnoughts of
the FIRST line. the Genera Board declares
that because of the necessary retirement
In the meantime to the second and third
l.nes Of obsolete vessels there would be
by 1921 only seventeen dreadnoughts At
for the fret line formation
Under the Genera Boards contempla-
ton Of the minimum requirements Of the
navy there should be added $4,000 sea-
men and 2.400 marines to the personnel
In 1917. Secretary Daniels. for the
same number Of big ships but a greater
number Of submarines and smaller craft.
proposes IN increase OF only 10000 sea-
men and 1900 marines.
The Lesson of the War.
That It u all important for the Amer
lean avy to rely first Of all on the
d~readnoughts as the backbone OF the fleet
and on swift ,bAttie. cruisers and scout
cruisers as the eyes Of the nav Is the
lesson which the board draws In tho fol-
lowing comment from the results In the
European q .
with It's two extensive coast lines
the United States offers great opportuni-
ties 10 m enemy to descend by surprise
upon IL shoreA To meet such attack
the tendency Of the country Is to place
too much reliance pom localized de-
fences. such as Notifications. mines and
submarines.
ITO forestall' the attack Of the enemy,
our main lighting force must be concen-
trated at q strategic CENTRE ready tn
move and defeat the hostile main body
before 1t a entered ~ area where it's
presence IL seriously dangerous to this
country's interests.
AN efficient scouting force. composed
Of battle cruisers and scouts. must be
thrown far beyond the main body to
assure this Indispensable service OF in
formation which ann otherwise be
secured. In default of information the
main fleet car only act blindly.
"In the g:leral tevelopm FL. II our
naval strength the time has now come
to provide for battle cruisers and scouts.
The main duty OF both types Is to get
information.
such has been tho principal employ
ment Of battle cruisers In the present
war. They have been In contact with
the enemy and their performances have
attracted much public attention. but az
yet the main forces OF battleships have
not been engaged and the control OF
The sea remains In the hands OF the
Powers having the superior battle fleet.
"As in the case OF submarines, 80 In
the case Of battle cruisers. the particu-
lar course Of the present war does not
justify the prevalent exaggerated idea
Of their Importance"
The General Board Ia made up Of Ad.
mirai Dewey. president; Rear Admirall
knight and Badger. Major-Gen. Barnet,
Of the United States Marine Corps. Vice.
Admiral Benson. and Capts. Knapp
Rodgers. Oliver. Wood. Chandler and
Hughes.
| WILL ARREST r.. r. ENGINEERS