Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-28
BATTLE CRUISERS
VALUE ENHANCED
Admiral Knight Prefers Them
if Congress Recommends
Four Capital Ships

Washington, July IS. - IN response
TO request by Secretary Daniels for
an opinion on what lessons might be
drawn for the naval expansion pro-
gram from the Jutland battle between
the British and German fleets. Rear
Admiral knight of the Naval War
College has replied that far from dis
crediting the battle cruiser. although
vessels OF that type bore the hrunt
Of the losses in the engagement the
nght added new area 10 the field of
usefulness of the fast fighters.
The battle has not changed the
admirars opinion that dreadnaughts
are and will continue 70 be the back
bone of any fighting fleet. but II has
caused him TO recommend that If
Congress decides TO add only four
capital ships all should be battle
cruisers.
Did Dreadnaughts' Work
I'm my opinion" wrote the Admiral
TO the Secretary. neither Admiral
Jellicoes report nor any other source
, of information at present available
affords a basis for definite Judgment
as TO the actual results of the battle.
The most significant fact thus far es-
tablished is that three British battle
cruisers were sunk, 1t is not clear
by what ships Of the enemy fleet they
were sunk, nor to how heavy a fire
they were subjected; nor is il known
whether they were destroyed by gun
fire alone or by the explosion of their
magazine.
But this one fact is clear. and in it
lies the whole explanation of the Incl
dent the battle cruisers were doing
the work of oattleships, for which
they were not designed, and they paid
penalty which was more or less in
evitaole. They were not only engag-
ing oattleships, but they were engag-
ing them at short range. It is claim
ed that they were doing tbs for a pur-
pose which made ii worth while to sac
rifice themselves; that they were seek
ing 70 hold the enemy fleet until Ad-
miral Jellicoe could come up; and
that they accomplished this. Admiral
Jellicoe claims that, as a direct result
of Admiral Beatty's action, the
British Grand Fleet was enabled to
engage the enemy fleet and would
nave destroyed it but for the fact
that thick weather set in and made il
impossible TO maintain contact.
Battle Cruisers Stock Up
Had the success which Admiral
Jellicoe claims TO have had almost
within his grasp been actually attain
ed, II would have been entirely due
10 the battle cruisers, and the loss
OF three OF these would have been
small price 10 pay for such a result
IN other words. the battle OF Jutland
so far from discrediting the battle
cruiser, has added I new area 10 its
possible field OF usefulness. and we
may now say of IL that in addition 10
us use for scouting and screening and
Tor operating as q fast wing against
tne ranks OF an enemy's fleet, it may
De used for holding an enemy fleet
until our own main fleet can come ,,r,
Inat 1t may be subject to heavy losses
n accomplishing this task does NOT
make the task less useful or less brill
liant '-
Ny reply is, then, that my view of
the value of the battle cruiser has
oeeh somewhat enhanced by the re-
suits OF the battle OFF Jutland. so far
as these results are known"
Al this point the Admiral referred
20 mis- testimony before the House
Naval Committee in which he declar-
eo II mis- opinion thar the battleshin
would continue to be the backbone Of
every efficient fighting fleet in snita
o. any developments which could he
Loreseen. The Admiral thought the
next year would bring developments
which would enable constructors ~
aesign a battieship which would meas
urao!y meet some of the new dangers
appearing during the war.
Change in Recommendations
The battle OF Jutland," Admiral
hnlght continued, has not led me n
nodlfy these views, out I learn tbst
IN the Tour months which have clans
ed since these were expressed. the de-
Velopment in battleship design to
which l looked forward at thar tin1e
nave advanced so rapidly that II is
possible to introduce this year the i'm
pi,rIoEement which I had in mind as
for that reason 1 am glad ~ ~ @itu nI1
portunity TO make one change in nv,
recommendatton, as follows:
the number OF capital ships n
De provided for this wear is go 70