The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-05
SECOND SHIPS
OUTCLASS BEST OF u. S. NAVY
Washington Experts Say American Fleet in Bat
tie Like That Off Jutland Would Have
Been Annihilated.

WAsuiNGrcN. Juno 1.-The suggestion
Of Admiral Dewey. as presented In his
interview in THE suS, that tho nava,
policy Of tho United States should be
formulated In accordance with the les
sons of tho North Sea battle found gen
cral support from line officers of tho ser
vice to-day.
\ closer comparison Of the ships OF
the United states navy with tho ships
engaged In the North Sea battle discloses
Weaknesses. according to American naval
o~f'ircrs. which should BE- considered be-
fore the building programme Of the pend.
ing nava, bill Is finally approved. In
view OF tho Information that has been
obtained " II not improbable that the
senate Naval AfYairs Committee will 60
over tho entire field again and will con-
fer with nava experts.
Naval officers have pointed out that
| not only Is II futile to match battle
cruisers against battleships, hut that the
| ships which the ADMIRALTY statements OF
both Great Britain and Germany place
IN the second or third line are In speed
| and armament equal or superior to ships
OF the United states navy which must
| serve az n first line of defence.
B%nttIrships the vital Weapon.
The presence of the German feet ri
battleships gave the initial victor. "a
Germany. tho naval officers point out,
v hile the arrival OF the more powerful
| British fleet of battleships promptly
forced the victorious German squadrons
to run for cover.
But aside from this ~ard,nal lesson.
the naval battle has emphasized other
important points. II has shown. the
experts say, that the United States nav
h. far inferior to the German navy IN
all types Of craft, and emphasizes the
| need OF n building programme designed
t. round out and complete the auNil'
In ries as we'll as the main fighters on a
far larger scale than has been contem.
| plated.
Winston 8. Churchill refers TO the
armored cruisers Black Prince. Defense
| and Warrior a. belonging to the third
order Of ships They were vessel,
, hitch the British Admiralty regarded
az practically obsolete. 20 far AS lighting
with the most modern type OF craft IL
concerned. Churchill does not consider
them even In tho saine class with the
=. cund line of British cruisers.
But these armored cruisers. practi'
cally OF no alu as far AZ "A modern
battle such as the North Sea fight Is
concerned, were superior IN armament
and speed 10 the most modern armiore
cruisers which the United states navy
possesses.
our best armcrcd cruisers arc ihs
Tennessee, Washington. Montana AM
North Carolina. They are equipped will
four 10 inch guns. which Is regarded b!
ordnance officers as inferior to the ar,na'
ment Of the Defence. Black Prince oI
Warrior, which carried six p. Incl
guns. In point ct speed none Of tbs
American Hrmorcd cruisers has cvel
eaualied IN" 1885 knots mad- lay thu
BLACK Prince. the ISL knots mad" ny
the Warrior or tho 23.i knots by the
Defence.
4. =. ships O~utclsss~d.
In brief. the arn,or.d British cruisers
which the British Admiralty considered
uunt for cfrertivr service in he Nor'f
sea fight cutclass'd tn" best armorcc
cruisers of our navy.
From, German official sources comes
tn. ncws that tho German Admiralt,
does not regard the loss Of the battle