El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-15
WON 7 INCREASE
SIZE Of WARSHIPS
Secretary Daniels Declares
Superdreadnoughts Are
Large Enough Now.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 15.-Secre-
tary Of the navy Daniels. in a state
ment just made public. declares he
favors no increase in the size of Amer
lean superdreadnoughts believing
them already large enOUgh. He re-
ferred TO ships of the California class,
displaclng $1,000 tons
Tt would be unwise," the statement
says, ito build dreadnoughts so large
that they could not easily pass through
the Panama canal 1t is also believed
that in view of the increased eff
cheney Of the torpedo. the very extern
sive use of mines and the bombs from
aircraft. IT is decidedly better TO in
crease the fighting units in numbers
rather than in size, the highwater
mark in size having been reached in
vessels of the California class"
The statement was submitted IN re-
Spouse to a requirement OF the last
naval appropriation bill, that congress
be furnished with u report on build
ing four Warships of the type. power
and speed which in his opinion (the
secretary's) judgment based on
knowledge gained from the prevailing
war in Europe, are best suited for war
on the sea"
Reply Closes Alignment.
In his reply, Mr. Daniels apparently
brings to q close the debate which has
been agitating the navy department.
for many weeks as to the general
characteristics Of the first battleShlpS
to be recommended under the admin
istration five year building plan. Ten
tative plans for a $4,000 ton snip
armed with 16 inch or perhaps II inch
guns have been discussed Many OIL
GERS believe the present Il inch, 90
caliber weapons Of the Pennsylvania
and California class ships TO be am
pie. since the ships VIII carry a dozen
each OF these as against eight or ten
at most larger weapons without rad
ical increase in displacement Ihere
are other navy officers and o1flclals
completed and tested last year with
sa tisfactOry results, should 90 on the
new ships. and still others who argued
for a Il inch gun,
Approves Super DreadnOughts.
In answering the question propound-
ed by congress. the secretary declares
for the uperdreadnought, as the most
efficient weapon, ship for ship, IN any
He serves warning. however. that a
fleet composed exclusively of dread
noughts must meet defeat at the hands
Of a better balanced organization
properly equipped with battle cruisers,
scouting craft and submarines
Much of the departments infor-
nation" continues the statement, IN
regard to the details affecting the ef-
ficiencv Of beTigerent ships. is IN
the form of confidential reports which
IL would be contrary TO the public IN
terests 10 make public in any way.
There are. however, several concur
sfons. which can be laid down.
British Fleet Commands Seas.
1.-The first and most important les
son is that the British grand fleet,
not only Of dreadnoughts
and superdreadnoughts. but also Of
battle cruisers, light cruisers, de-
strOysrs, submarines, and auxiliaries.
has TO date, maintained command OF
the sea, thereby assuring to Great
Britain and her allies communication
with all parts Of the world and reas;
onably safe oversee transport for her
military forces and supplies, at the
same time denying similar advantages l