Arizona republican., 1915-11-24
MAY ABANDON
 PRESENT TYPE
 IF SUBMARINE
[RepubIioan A. p. Leased wIrel


 WASHINGTON, Nov 23.-Aban- donment of the present coast de- fense type submarine in favor of ! larger seagoing submersibles may be recommended by the navy depart ment as a result of lessons learned during the recent maneuvers of the Atlantic fleet and unofficial informa- l tion concerning the size of under water craft now in service in Europe
 There are indications, it was said, ! today that the United States is lag ging behind in submarine develop ! ment. Navy officials have been par tieularly impressed by the apparent probability that a submarine of ap- proximately 1900 tons and measuring 250 in length has been engaged Tn the warfare against allied merchant men,.
 Reports on the fleet maneuvers. it has just become known. tell graphic stories of the difficulties encountered by the twelve little submarines at tached to the blue" force commanded by Admiral FIetchers and defending the coast against a theoretical enemy. The boats were at sea several days and encountered continuous rough water. While no unexpected me chanical troubles were encountered, the personnel of the vessels suffered 1 extremely from sea sickness, bad air, improper food and the continual buf- feting they received in the pitching and rolling. To impairment of the efficiency of the crews by seasick- ness alone many minor mishaps to the boats are said to be attributed. The maneuvers included the first aft 4n ha r all of the coast defense type, and none displacing more than 500 tons, at nearly 1000 miles off shore. The general scheme of defense, it is said. fixes that distance at sea as the zone within which coast submarines should be able to operate in any weather. Should an enemy sue ceed in reaching within a hundred 1 miles or so of the coast it is argued 1 by some officers he would be able to guard his fighting force with 1 screen of mine sweepers, destroy CTS and aeroplanes which would render the chances of attacking his capital ships very uncertain Far be maintained.
 For the purposes of the maneu- vers, Admiral Fletcher placed his
  north or south as the movements of the "red' hostil fleet. 1900 miles off shore. might necessitate. One of the twelve boats was unable to reach it's station, as it would not steer properly in the rough weather. The other eleven, battened down tight for days at a time, and with water pouring over them day and night, carried out their orders. Later the blue commander discovered that his red" enemy was sweeping to southward. He ordered the sub marines south to intercept the Efleet An indication of the troubles en- countered is given in the fact that it took six hours to convey this or der to one of the submersibles
 Finally the flotilla started south ward but was able to make less than half the speed required to bring it to it's appointed station on time. Navigation was accomplished by only dead reckoning, for with the vessels closed up tight and tumbling about in the water, the officers could not verify their positions. They were fifty miles or more out of position at the conclusion of the trip, and the s'red" transports and conveys swept through the breach they left to land an army on American soil.
 While no definite recommenda- tions have been made, the question of the value of a submarine as small as the present type for coast defense work is being seriously con sidered. There are more than sew enty boats of 500 tons or less dis placement now built or building for the navy.
 The view has been held, it is un- derstood that with larger sub marines the difficulties of naviga- tion at sea would be reduced, greater speed could be attained and the eff ficiency of the boats for purposes such as that of the maneuvers in- creased approximately