Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-14
Senate Military Committee
will Aim to FederaIize the
National Guard.
TO CONFER OFTEN WITH
HOUSE Committeeman
Latter Begin Inquiry Into Subma'
rines-Admiral Grant Denounces
Coast Defense Type.

National preparedness prob
lens again today held the center
of the stage in congressional
activity.
Having ended it's hearings on mill
tary defense questions. Chairman
Chamberlain and his associates on the
Senate military committee today be-
gan framing a bill on the subject. They
were to incorporate in the measure
plan of liberalization of the National
Guard to create reserve defense
force. AS their work progresses the
Senate committee proposes to confer
frequently with members of the House
military committee.
Chairman Hay and members of the
House committee resumed today work
of redrafting the House defense bill
to eliminate the continental army fea-
ture and place in it's stead the plan OF
federalizing state troops.
Inquiry Into Submarines.
The House naval committee today be-
gan an exhaustive inquiry into sub
marine warfare and the alleged short
comings of American submarines.
Abandonment of the coast defense
type of submarine was recommended by
Admiral Grant Limitation of cruising
radius, unseaworthiness and other limi-
tations. he said. made it advisable in
future to build only submerslbles of
the 1.000-ton fleet submarine type, Of
which three have been authorized and
none is Yet complete.
"'They are too small to be adequately
Serviceable.' re said
Admiral Grant said he had positive
knowledge that German boats from
J-3S to C-5S, inclusive, displaced 500
tons on the surface as against $50
tons for the K boats of the American
navy, the largest in the service.
Cites Operations Abroad.
said. had operated out Of Helgoland
miles from their base.
Il took them nine days to make the
round trip. he said. and they remained
on the operating station thirteen days,
unless driven to base sooner through
having used up the torpedo supply.
Three of these C-boats, he said. could
keep the cycle working SO one was al
ways on the operating station. To do
the same thing he added the United
States would require twenty-five K
class boats because of their ten-day
sea-service limitation.
ThreeC-boats would cost $500, 900 and
twenty-five K-boats $4,000, 900. Admiral
Grant said.
Admiral Grant thought it unwise to
construct any submarine of less than
twenty-knot speed, and said this could
not be done on a small boat. He urged
that the minimum size Of future boats
be 500 tons surface displacement.
Commander Stirling to Be Heard.
Commander Yates Stirling. who COM
manded the fleet. last year and who
made startling revelations concerning
the ineficiency Of the submersibles, Is
expected to follow Admiral Grant.
At the present rate of progress Chair
man Padgett of the committee does not
believe that the naval appropriation
bill Will be ready to place before the
House until the latter part of May. The
Senate naval committee will not con-
slider the bill until the House commit
fee hearings are nearing an end.
Arethusa Light Cruiser.
The Arethusa was light cruiser, dis
Facing $500 tons. She was 40 feet
fo1g. 80 feet beam and had a mean
z aft of Il feet. The vessel was built at
chatham in 1913.
The cruiser was armed with two six
inch guns fore and aft and six four
inch guns on the broadside. She also
eunipped with four