The Washington herald., 1916-04-02
By T.. b. JOHNS.

The fight Of the larger navy advocates
will he Ccntcrcd largely on the number
Of battle cruisers to be authorized b. the
bill pending in the House committee
The first proposition will probably he to
inCrea Sc the number OF battle Cruisers
TO four in addition TO the two battle
ships recommended by the adminlstra-
ton.
Some Of the battle cruiser adherents
insist that If it isn't possible to secure
four battle cruisers in addition to two
battleships that battle cruisers should
he substituted for battleships. Naval Of
fiCers who were opposed to battle cruisers
on the ground that they do not ft into
the organization Of the feet now argue
that II this type OF ship is to be included
N the building program a division or
at least four battle cruisers should be
authorized at the same time. Anything
less than a division of battle cruisers, II
is argued. would be practically useless
to the fleet in large engs cement with
2 first-class naval power. For this rea-
son il IS claimed the program this year
should consist entirely OF battle cruisers.
The proposed change in the building
program will meet with strong opposi-
ton from officers on duty at the Navy
department. They contend that the pro-
--ar-1 submitted by the Secretary is the
Board The General Board has means
ut oG,aining information which those who
are insisting upon a change to battle
cruisers 90 not possess. All OF the argu-
ments for an exclusive battle cruiser pro-
gram have been presented TO the Cen
eral Board and after giving them the
fullest consideration the General Board
decided to recommend the continuation
Of the battIeship program. The General
&c m ar arrangement by
which the construction Of battle cruisers
should be allowed TO interfere with keep
ing up the strength OF the battlesnlp
feet The battle cruisers, according 10
the policy Of the General Board, should
be in addition to the battlcships.
1t developes that the accidents TO Z
inch guns on the Michigan and on the
Louisiana consist of the cracking Of the
bands. The guns did not burst, as mas
been reported in some Of the news as
patches. Both Of the guns were refined
after they had been fired the number OF
shots that are allowed for the life OF
a gun, and the Investigation which is
being conducted by a board may result
in some important change in the policy
of the department in dealing with Dig
guns in the navy.
The board has been working upon its
investigation for three weeks. AT the
Washington Navy Yard. The invesusa-
ton began with an inquiry as TO the char
acter Of the steel that was used in the
manufacture OF the guns The official re-
port OF the record OF the guns is being
scrutinized and every feature OF the con-
ditions under which the guns have been
used has been looked into with great
care. Not until the ships come North
will the board make an examination OF
the guns In all probability the board
will not have completed It's preliminary
work before the battleships come from
Southern waters.
1t has been suggested that the crack
ing OF the outer bands was due 70 the
creation of too much pressure in the
contraction of the bands. This, It is
thought, was more liable to be the cause
of the accident than a fault in the steel
of the outer layer OF the guns. The
guns were OF the older type and as a
consequence the builders may not have
been able TO estimate the pressure lex
erted by the bands as the result OF their
contraction as accurately as the ord
nance experts do now with their pres
ent facilities.
The board which is conducting the in
vestigation consists of Capt James H
lGlennon, commandant Washington Navy