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

could do when one of them comes down in its
midst" he says
There would be nothing to hurt If you did hap
pen to hit her, and she could fire all the torpe
does she wants to at you. One of our young off,
GERS recommended n vessel of that type. Natural
conservatism on the part Of the Older who
control the upper end Of all services-nnd 1t is
the natural conservatism of large bodies that con-
troll government-stands In the way Of just
such proposition; those men do not quite like
the radical idea. But just the same one OF those
novel craft will pop mp one Of these days; and
for all know II win come out of Wilhelmshaven
before this is over"
IT is a well-known fact that the destroyer has
proved the submarines worst enemy, and for two
reasons: First because OF Its speed combined
with effective gun power; and second, owing TO
the difficulties OF retaliation through torpedo
attack, the submarines only sufficient answer 70
the destroyer's rapid hrers More often than 9th
erwise the underwater boats principal weapon has
sped harmlessy under the destroyer without scor-
ing simply because the dec.royer draws far less
water than the submarines intended quarry, the
big vessel.
The torpedo is ordinarily set to run deep enough
to strike well below a large ships armor belt,
and therefore II apt TO pass without hitting below
the keel Of a destroyer. II was this idea that
Captain Sims had in mind when he said that the
novel battle craft was TO be built 80 that moth
ing could get under 1t"
There is another advantage, too. in this arrange
n
operate In waters where ordinarily only light
gunboats destroyers could maneuver In safety.
Accordingly II would be easy for q craft OF this
character either TO hide where least expected or
to run to cover when the odds offered by armored
ships were too heavy against her.
Great Britain has found is necessary 20 utilize
monitors, especially modified for the work, in her
offensive operations against the German positions
on the coast Of Belgium. Shallow draft and fairly
heavy ornaments have made these vessels reason
H. mt
been able to destroy the German naval station
at Zeebrugge and the kaiser's designers have no
doubt long been busy devising a naval foil TO the
British attack.
This probability in part is warrant for Cap
tain Sims assumption that something out Of the
ordinary was likely 10 issue from Wilhelmshnven
before the end Of the present struggle II h takes
the form suggested the ship VIII not be 3 formld-
able foe only for Euglands monitors, but II would
certainly prove very dangerous antagonist for
wenigh any Of Great Britain's heavy fighting
ships.
As with so many things concerning national
defences no secret has been made here Of this
proposed order Of craft. Captain Sims has
said
ut has been before our people for n long while.
II has been discussed at the War college and pa
pers have been written on H."
Foreigners have undoubtedly made themselves
familiar with everything that has been given out
about the ship and certainly the type would 70 q
toward
numbers under which the German feet laboFs.
Moreover there are economic reasons why q
fighting ship Of this peculiar type would commend
itself especially TO people circumstaneed as are
the Germans now.
As Captain Sims says; Il have always believed
that vessel could be designed in that way with
out any necessity for a waste OF side armor be
cause she would have nothing above her water
line 10 protect that Is. substantially nothing She
would have no turrets. which cost 20 much IN
weight and she would have no big guns. which
cost in the weight Of the gun. ammunition, etc
"She would carry two towers. from either OF
which the ship could be controlled: One 10 b
used In case the other knocked out TheJ
would be Of sufficient sire 20 hold the people who
rnapeuver the craft. Her smoke pipe would b.
armored so that IL could not be shot away -
close 10 her deck as TO do any particular damage
She could be armed with eight torpedo tubes OF
her side and she could carry great many tor
radoes for each one Of those tubes"
At the Naval War college strategic experts hav'
given this suggestion numerous theoretical tests