Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-05-25

Daniels points out that the, main pat
terry of the former is made up OF only
eight 15-inch guns while the main
battery of the latter comprises
twelve 14-inch guns. The inference
is. of course, that the larger number
of guns on the American warshlp
compensates for the larger caliber or
the guns of the British. Along the
same line Secretary Daniels says that
the navy department has built ana
proved a 16-inch gun, superior to
both 15-inch and 14-inch guns IN
the penetration of armor at fighting
range, but he explains that it they
should be installed on the Pennsyl-
vania she could mount only eight as
compared with the twelve l4-lnch
guns now assigned her.
At this distance from salt water
and proving grounds it does not
seem of vast Importance how many
guns a warship carries if they are
outranged by the guns of a speedler
enemy ship. Other things being
equal, the warship that could put
the largest number of guns to work
would possess a distinct advantage.
But in a comparison between YES
sci of the Queen Elizabeth type ana
the Pennsylvania type, other things
are not equal. The Elizabeth, ac-
cording to available information,
was built with an eye to speed as
we'll as to long range gun practice.
She could, if she lives up to specln-
cations. outrun and outrange any
American superdreadnaught. This
being true, it would seem that the
presence of twelve 14-inch guns or
the American vessel in case OF an
encounter between them, would not
20 very far toward evening up the
connection between two warshlps.
Nor would the presence OF heavier
armor on the American competitor
cut much figure in overcoming the
handicap against her. Theoretically
at least, the superior speed OF the
Elizabeth would enable her to keep
out of effective range of the Ameri-
can 14-inch guns. While hammer
ing the slower Pennsylvania to
pieces with the 15-inch British guns.
Under such circumstances the num-
Der of guns on the Pennsylvania
might be doubled, and the NUMBER
; of guns on the Elizabeth cut in two
without seriously disturbing the bal
ance of advantage. If four guns on
the Elizabeth could be kept in ef-
fective action while twenty-four
| guns on the Pennsylvania remained
out of range, who would not rather
be a passenger on the Elizabeth than
on the Pennsylvania? 1t is only on
the theory that the American a.
l inch guns can do as much damage
= as the British 15-inch guns at the
i most effective fighting range That
:. the Daniels idea can be logically
justified. In the absence of expert
information on this topic the pre-
: SUMPTION of greater efficiency goes
r to bigger gun.
h Big guns and speed-that is the
combination which has proved most
effective in the naval encounters OF
. the present war. The number OF
guns in the main battery has not
d been important Secondary batter
+ les have hardly been brought into
action at all. The thickness of armor
plate has not figured in the equa-
y ton. Speed is important in bring
r ing a warship into range of the en-
= envy and big guns are important IN
being able to get into action before
those of the shorter ranged adver-
sary.
II In the light of naval results in
IS the present unpleasantness, Ameri-
IS can naval fans would feel in a more
% comfortable frame of mind If they
should find some of our naval appro'
priations going into battle cruiser
81 that could sail faster and shoot far
st Their than any other warship afloat.
~ rT rvEp pTyT-