Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
DRASTIC POLICY IN VIEW
REGARDING SUBMARINES
Undersea Vessels Prove Fur From
Satisfactory and Efforts Are Made
to Improve Them.

The fact that court-martial will be
held to consider the charges against
Rear Admiral William Little. U. S. N,
retired, growing out Of the inability of
naval officers to make the submarine
K-2 work satisfactorily, leads many
observers OF navy events to believe
that a drastic policy is about to be in
augurated with respect to the under
water craft. Secretary Daniels has
made 1t clear that SO much trouble and
complaint have arisen because of the
K-2 that an investigation must be held
IN order to place the responsibility. He
said he had the greatest respect for
Rear Admiral Little, but that in view
Of the fact that the onicer accepted the
boat which has since given SO much
trouble something definite must be
DONE
The fact that submarines have been
giving trouble is no secret. In addi-
ton to the knowledge in possession of
nava! mon. the public hearings of the
naval affairs committees of Congress-
last year revealed the fact that the Of
ncers In charge of submarines found
them balky at all times Electric bat
series and gasoline engines on these
uncomfortable " ~
secretary Daniels was asked yester-
uay II the navy had reached a point
peyond the experimentation stage in
Inc building OF submarines. He replied
tha waiie advances have been made
ehe Underwater boat Is still far re-
moved from perfect stability. In other
s Mo,as. going down in submarine is
eoMetnlng OF an adventurous risk. The
naval consulting board is to devote
ba1 1s ssudy and time to the subject Of
men men IN the navy are working on that
line now. va sA"e
Along with the announcement that
seventy new submarines will be added
bin 'n for navy ~ through the appropriation
martial on submarine suh,e eouri t.
to be held. has interested I0, ofi'cer rs
n1nrougnout the service. AS Secretary
n nan explained. an officer of the sub
that .b ooa Icon e,os1nastructing company said
r.Snr but that defects which have de-
veioped since seem to have hean m
's59urmountable. Admiral Little was the
IN .eo states naval officer Inspecting
Tug work and responsible for it.
prominent navy official said va,+.-
day: 'a'o yes'er-
WHAT'S the use of going ahead with
q d.. sigantic submarine program until
alre are a h'.;s. to control those we have
engine and battery that will resnond
70 al needs Otherwise the submarina
VIII De negligible factor in warfara
LOU never could depend on it,
court-Martial Postponed.
me court-martial of Rear Admiral
william N. Little. retired, was post
pohed yesterday until November l.
admiral Little explaining to Secretary
Daniels that he would be unable to nre-
pare his defense by tomorrow. the
original date set. The officer ia
charged with neglect of duty in hav-
Ing accepted as machinery inspector
submarine K-2 from the builders when
he Is alleged to have known that there
was defective construction In her cleo
trio storage batteries.
In documents relating to the case
made public yesterday Admiral Little
is quoted as having said that accept
-ance of the boat was based on the
contractors agreement ito stand back
of the battery TOR all time as to the
alleged careless Workmanship" The
present navy inspector at the Fore
River shipbuildtng plant, where the
submarine was constructed, reported
he was unable to find any written rec
ord OF the agreement in the hles of his
Office.