The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-05

s,ip Wcstfal"n with deep concern he
cause Of the fact that this ship was
not in the same class with the first line
fighters Of the imperial feet. She was
u second Hue ship, according to Her
lin. and naval experts here agree. Hut
they add that the Westfalcn far out
classed many Of the battleships of the
American feet which certain members
OF Congress have pointed TO with pride.
The Westfalcn, with a displacement ~
1s.io0 tons and a speed OF 20.4 knots
and carrying twelve II inch guns. was
superior 10 suc', American battlesi,ips
~ the New Jersey. Rhode Island. Nir-
ginia, Nebraska, Georgia, Louisiana.
Connecticut. Kansas. Minnesota. Yer
mont. New Hampshire. Idaho. Missis-
sippi. Michigan and South Carolina.
None Of these ships. IN point Of srn,a-
mert or other chief characteristics.
| could equal the Westfaleu. The nearest
approach to this "sccond line" chip
| among tho vessels mentioned is the
Michigan or South Carolina. which are
equipped With eight i2 Inch gun. and
. are capable Of a speed of is.b as com
pared with :o.i knots OF which the
Wcstf1lcn was capable.
Need "s American Fleet.
/! Naval experts emphasize this to show
the necessity for reinforcing the feet
with NJ least two Of the most modern
types of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. The Cen
eral BOARD already has plans drawn up
for two or four 81 thes. lighting mon
stcrs Of approximately 5000 tons dis
placement and equipped with II inch or
IL inch guns II Is the big ships hat
| count and not the number Of little ones.
| they point out.
The North Sea fight showed the effect
81 the arrival Of Great Rritain's super
d~readnoughts. Not one 81 these ships
was seriously damaged The WarSpite.
though torn with heavy shells from tho
salyoS OF the German fleet. was able to
remain IN action and keep her guns
going until the German feet left the
field and the sup.Sdreadnought Marlbor.
\ ough was abb. to make port, although
| hit by a torpedo.
Reports also indicated that the hig
| German first line fighters wcr" able 10
withstand all the fire directed against
them. The extent Of damage to them
: not known. but was not serious enough
apparently To- cripple their lighting Ell
/ cheney.
The opinion IL advanced in nava'
circles that had the American navy In
combined strength c~ndeavored &" dd
what Rear Admiral beatty attempted II
would have risked humiliation because
| W Ats 'lllAI' w wv ~ y
with her Xeppcllns and scaplsncs would
have known vwy ~ the
4 American fleet FAR in advance. whereas
the low hanging inists would have
shroudcd even the composition Of the
German force from view.
n Is believed that Admiral Dewey's
warning will BE- needed before II IL toe
late. Thc'nav>. ~ Is explained. wants
new battleships for tn. fighting fleet and
a proper proportional increase In thu
fleet auN''a ries, which includes battle
cruisers. armored cruisers. scouts. dc.
stroyers ~ great lower and seagoins
capabilities. submarines with sufficient
cruising radius to the fleet
aud aircraft for valuable scouting ser.
Nh,A.
A. Adnir1l Dewey points out. de
stroycrs played y very important role IN
tho Nghtlng by day as well as by night
Great britain. recognizing the value al
de~stroyers, had sold out most Of her ole
- Knot type long hcfor. the war anC
replaced them by new. powerful seagoins
' units.