The sun., 1917-09-09
Plans for Cloud of
.Destroyers Bring
Out Alternative
Idea That May
Prove More Use
full and Practical

-IvE HUNDRED MILLION dol
r. lars for torpedo boat destroy
J ers,- not craft to wipe out the
c,rface torpedo boat. but destroyers
capable OF dealing effectually with the
submarine. Such is the programme
which the Secretary Of the Navy plans
for the sudden increment Of this par
ocular department OF our battle fleet.
For the moment tho scheme seems
m simulate in purpose something OF
N. idea back Of our gigantic appro-
pdation for military aviation. but the
similarity Is superficial. The aircraft
are for a service OF indisputable value:
me proposed magnificent array Of de-
stroyer. for anti-U-boat work is In no
wise based upon proof Of hindred EN-
ciency. This suggested outlay. how
ver. is ample evidence that our navy
a well as the fighting fleets OF our
allies Is seeking desperately for ca
nable instrument with which to halt
the activities of the ravasing Hun
submarine.
With something OF a splurge ana a
narade Of complacency many Of our
nchnicians loudly proclaimed few
months back tine irresistible powers of
the submarine chaser. q motor launch.
The Navy Dep artment welcomed the
,ype and Mr.. Daniels ordered some
hundreds Of them. but almost before
the first Of the class was afioat and
undergoing speed trials the Depart
mont made public change Of mind
and frankly expressed doubts Of the
usefulness Of the chAsers for which II
had obligated largo sums Of the public
funds.
The torpedo boat destroyer II a
capable craft within prescribed limits
and for certain lines of work has dem
onstrated It's fitness. But the destroyer
As a means Of dealing with the SUBJ
marine Is OF debatable value, even
though boats Of this sort have bagged
underwater craft fairly often. The
hest service Of this nature rendered by
the destroyer has been close to the
coasts, with ports Of refuge and bases
OF supply and repair near by.
But now that Germany has put
bigger submarines at work. vessels
capable OF travelling Tar and holding
their stations at sea for weeks at q
time, the defensive problem confront
inc our allies and ourselves has been
radically modified. Tho destroyer has
not been developed proportionately.
and no one recognizes the limitations
Of this extra speedy kind Of torpedo
boat better than Vice-Admiral william
8. Sims. In his Enthusiastically
vivid fashion he discussed tho limita-
tions of the destroyer with the Com
mi,tee on Naval Affairs Of the House
Of Representatives q little moro than
a year ago. He was then bent upon
showing how essential were mother
ships for destroyer flotiIlaA
~ Tin Hox Around a. BaglAs.~
He said: IF you have not . mother
ship for destroyer to which she can
turn for necessary spare parts ana
for repair in case Of breakdown she
will have to go back to q navy yard.
destroyer Is really nothing but
tin box built around q mighty big
engine"
In comparison with the submarine,
especially the large seagoinY U-boat.
the destroyer is fiimsy and despite her
lack Of ruggedness she must battle
with the open sea when the under
water craft can sink beneath the
waves and sidestep a driving storm.
II we obligate many millions for de-