The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-02-16

~ HAT is the next surprise that naval
!: !. !. !: !. :: :. !. !. !:
architects have In store for the
wOrld7
~" Is II possible to modify radically
HAW \ existing types of battle craftf
N Has the naval strategist any
thing I'm mind that will be totally
unlike present warships-some-
thing that will upset the prevailing
order of battle tactics upon the scar THESE ques-
lions are asked by Robert G.. Skerrett In the New
York Sun and he goes on to say that experts an
swer yes to questions two and three One of the
foremost of American naval officers said not long
ago:
az believe we can build ship here that will
make the whole world sit up and take notice II
we want to do So"
This assertion was brought out by n debate on
the subject of naval increase, when the genesis
Of the modern dreadnaught was discussed An
interesting light thrown upon the origin and
reason for being OF that era-making type of heavy
ship of the line. The disclosure illustrates how
kindred forces may be at work In calling into
being another and no less startling departure In
naval architecture. According TO the officer In
question:
England has been criticized for inventng the
dreadnaught type the ground that II she had
not done so she would have maintained greater
preponderance over every other navy In her pre-
dreadnaught types and as the dreadnaught type
is far more efficient she therefore had TO start
even with other nations again. The reply TO that
absolutely forced upon her.
an the days when were firing at each other
at 1000 1900 yards dreadnaught was not
logical thing at all. because at those ranges you
could use eight-inch gun with great effect or
six-inch gun. But as Admiral Sir Percy
Scott showed us bow to train gun pointers with
his new device II changed the situation material
ly. His whole invention was a method Of train
ing gun pointers.
1--WE applied It on our side and we talked TO
ST nd IN opla on he OF
side Of the Atlantic about t. ] went 20 Eng
land and talked 10 the gun people there and we
finally, tentatively going from one range TO an
other. found out that could hit target at
5000 or 1900 yards which were considered
enormous ranges in those day2sqssass@f
"You cannot hit anything With a six-inch gun
ri those distances II therefore perfectly
Illogical for them to build any more battleships
except with all big guns. Accordingly, the allbig-
gun ship had to be built
I'VE would have built the first one on this side
| n the authorities here had listened 70 Us. Eng
| land did not invent the all-bg gun ship. II was
| Admiral Sir Percy Scott who thought out how to
shoot at long range, and the other fellows fol-
lowed a natural consequence. Big guns are the
only ones that win do any particular damage at
/ long range.
The present conflict has made it plain that in
sexual warfare the nation with Initiative win have
| a great advantage. and Germany has undoubtedly
! kent her foes guessing No one knows what she
Is likely 20 spring next upon her anti gonists, but
! past performances hint at certain possibilities"
Capt William s Sims thus describes thor
oughly practicable novel order OF battle craft Its
theoretical advantages evident 20 the ex'
perts that the likelihood OF its appearing before
long is more than possibility.
IF you build a ship Of 10000 tons that has
nothing but protective deck, and so fat that
nothing could get under IT, that only has two
towers one forward and one aft, TO control the
ship, and no guns at all. but armed with eight OF
ten torpedo tubes on a side, and capable Of max
] ing IS knots would like to know what a deet