Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-10
Officials Say the Deutschland
Proves the Efficacy of Un-
derWater Craft.
SEE DIVISION OF H0N0RS
WITH THE DREADNAUGHTS
Cruising Radius of the U. S. Sub
marines Is Theoretically Placed
at 5000 Miles.

Naval officials on duty at Washing
ton believe the time is rapidly ap-
preaching when giant underwater sea
boats will divide honors with super
dreadnaughts as masters of the oceans.
in consequence of the arrival at Balti-
more of the big German submarine
Deutschland. The sensational feat of
the underwater boat caused a stir in
naval circles. many officers accepting
1t as the first practical fulfllpent of
the faith naval constructors have put
in the theory of underwater naviga-
ton on a high seas scale.
Theoretically, the cruising radius of
the submarines of the United States
feet is 5000 miles, but in point of
fact the longest single cruise ever
completed by one without mishap was
that made by the X class boats last
year from San Francisco to Honolulu,
a distance of about 1000 miles.
Long Trips Under Convoy.
Other long voyages have been per-
formed by submarines under convoy,
but none of them has involved quite
as definite a demonstration of the pos
eibilities of submarine navigation. 1t
was recalled today that ten small sub
marines. built in America and as
sembled in Canada, made a successful
voyage a year ago from Montreal to
England without trouble. and upon
their arrival there five of them con-
tInued to the Dardanelles These YES
sells had a tonnage of only about 500
Military authorities here were in
cllned TO give full credit to the Ger
man officials for conceiving the idea
and making effective a commercial ex-
change with the United States by use
OF the submarine. As military propo-
eiton. however, they evinced little
surprise at the incident. saving that
the vessel possessed no military adj
vantages. except that of size, over the
recent types added to the United States
Navy, and was fully 30 per cent slower
Largest U. S. Craft Under Contract.
The submarine Schley, the largest
type under contract by the Navy De-
partment. Will have ~ speed of twenty
knots, against an estimated speed of
twelve for the Deut schland; will be
275 feet in length, against the 300 of
the latter. and will have a 1.2oO-ton
displacement against probably 1000
for the latter None pf the military
characteristics of the Deutschland in
the opinion of officials here, surpasses
that of the Schley
What possibilities might lie behind
the development of a war vessel of the
super-submarlne type that could strike
effectively, a t enemy ships or enemy
ports several thousand miles from base
Is subject of much speculation here
II is conceded that II might break down
the ordinary barriers to attacking iso-
Iated nations as the Deutschland has
broken trade barriers. 1t might open
up also, navy officers realize. an entire
~ new field of experiment in the de-
Tense of coast lines and the main
tenance of blockades
Negotiations for the construction of
submarines of the Deutschland TYNE in
Ihe United states were opened by the
German government soon after the he
ginning OF the war. SeteraI concerns
were found who offered to build the
vessels, but the project failed because
to Germany.