New-York tribune., 1916-02-15
Rear Admiral Grant Would
Abandon Present Type
of Small Boat.
GERMAN CRAFT
FAR SUPERIOR
CAPTAIN Mexican Tells of Real
and Rapid Progress in
Preparedness.

Washington, Feb. IA. While the
House Naval Committee continued
day its hearings on .he navy appro-
priation bill. the military committees
Of both houses prepared TO draft the
measures they will propo-e TO strength
en- the army. The military committees
probably will begin daily sessions be-
fore the emo Of the week.
Rear Admiral Grant, the submarine
commander, and the first sea duty Off
Ger 70 appear at the hearing. told the
House committee to-day that he be
leved the present type Of American
submarine should be aba-dored. and
only large boats, Of al least 500 tons
surface displacement, should be con
structed. Boats Of this size, he said,
had done the most efficient work for
the German navy in the present war.
Pear Admiral Grant said he had posi-
tive knowledge that German boats from
U-39 to U-5s. inclusive. displaced 500
tons on the surface. as against 45O tons
Tor the K-boats Of the American navy,
the largest i'm the service. For months
So Corroa, heats no said. had Oper-
afed ont Of Heigoiand around Scotland
n. a DISTANCE of thirteen hundred miles
sroro tbeir basc IL took them nine
davs to make the round trip, he SAID,
and they remained on the operating
station thirteen days, unless driven 10
base sooner through having used up
fb. torpedo supply. Three OF these L
bos.s n. said could keep the cycle
,,,orLino 20 mat one was always on the
cneratine station. To do the same
thing. he added. the United States
would require twenty-five n c.ass
boats. because Of their ten-day sea ser
Nee limitation.
u consider ten days 20 be the limit
Of time men should stay AZ sea on a
K-boat. our largest type. and that Ilmlt
must be reduced for smaller poats.
Yepeat that tel days ls the lHmlt OF
time a K-boat can stay al sea ana De
al all effective.
"For months the big German suoi.A-
rines operated from Hellgolaho as
base around the coast OF Ireland
round trip Of twenty-seven hundred
miles. They remain aw;y from base
fwenty-one days, unless they nave used
up their supply OF tOrpet oes On thelr
rftnrn thew remained in port twelve
lavs while their engines wer over
hauled and the crews were given ten
davs' rest. So their cycle OF operation
was thirty-three days, and boat re-
manned on its operating ground thlr-
teen davs. This made IL necessary 20
haze three boats in motion or under
ovorbaul TO keep one constantly on the
operating ground
"If we had no engine trouble, and Il
the K-boats cou make twelve knots an
hour. II would require twenty-five X
boats 10 do what three Of the s00-ton
U-boats did for months. Three O-boats
would cost S2.5OOO00 and twenty-five
K-boats S1OO00O00'
Captain Josiah $. Mexican. attached
10 the office of the chief Cf operations
a. assistant for materiel. said that,
while he was inclined to agree with
Rear Admiral Grant as 20 the greater
value of larger submari es o.her Off
GERS had different views.
CAPTAIN Mexican revealed that much
Of the Navy DEPARTMENTS information
about German submarines had come
from an American boy who served for
8 the on one of them in active service
before he could establish his nation
alitv and secure immunity frtm mill