Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-02-01

saFassss~n,-
At TINT institution the ship is commonly known
as the Sciiolield. because Commander FRANK H.
schofield was the first to suggest the type IN
the strategic problems worked out on the game
hoard the ship has led to some startling results.
Because armor Is not necessary lot Hlffets'
weight Is not required for big guns, and as me
craft lies low in the water it Is possible to give
her q very effective defense against sllf'a4beous
attack, and it IS feasible to suhii'the her beIo"
the water line into many compartments, the very
number serving to localize damage. Accordingly
the Schofeld is assumed to be proof against tor
pedo attack, while above water her protective
deck and sturdy sides would stand off shots even
from The largest guns because IF the giahclhs
blows that hostile projectiles would slfike.
Possibly the best evidence of what the Naval
Wal college thinks about the Sol,otield can be
gathered from Captain Sims own statement.
While admitting that he did not know what sten
q vessel would actually do in time OF conflict ne
plainly expressed his apprehension OF his chances
If attacked by a craft If that order: IF l were
in command Of Il fleet and one OF those things
came down on me ! think / would turn the vessel
over to the second in command ard 20 down be-
low"
II is not commons understood by the laynan
that there are times when the torpedo even az
long ranges stands n better chance of hitting than
the biz gun. The big gun may he seriously handi-
capped or impaired in its efficiency by reason OF
the weather. The torpedo, on the other hand,
dives below the surface If the ansriest sea and
holds IT'S depth despite tuinhling waves as 1t
specds on toward its target.
II is for this reason that the Schofeld is armed
almost exclusively with t%orpedoes. Any guns
Tint might be placed on deck would be only rapid
iirers intended to stand off lestroyers or To deal
son ~ nnAr3tr Il
Success in a naval action depends very much
llton gaining the advantage Of position so 1if as
wind and light are concerned. In moderate
weather. with a moderate breeze blowing, a COM
manuer wants to have the wind in his face. That
is to say, the wind should blow from the direction
of the enemy, because then the smoke and gas
from his own guns blow back and away and
leave the commander with an unlmpatred view
of his foe, while the enemy's discharge hangs for
u while on his lee and ~interferes with his VISION
and the speedy working of his ordnance effectively.
II is not m easy thing to gain the position OF
advantage, and half the success in doing this
hinges uron invisibility. 4 vessel like the Scho-
field living low in the water and capable OF max
Ing 80 knots m hour, would hive the whip hahd
in this particular, because she could slip along al
fun speed unolserved. whereas Il ship risin,
higher above the surface would be sure 10 betray
herself against the horizon.
The mart thar the StHlltr ihbsS III tuttic an
ties is thus described ny one of the navy's emf
nent officers: IF YOU have been fortunate enough
to set into position with the wind in your race
and the foe to windward and ii comes on to no"
and kicks up n sea sufficient 70 splash water vi
over the sides of your ship when you are steam
ing % knots, then there is another difficulty. The
spray viii interfere very seriously with your frih1
because il keeps your telescopes wet.
Instead of looking through a clear telescope
the situation Is not unlike looking through th'
water when you are in swimming Your 'lsioi
Is obscured. Water also may get into your tur
refs and into your fire control connections an'
possibly may put you ut more or less of n iisad
vantage.
"Remcmbcr this, fleets fight nowadays nj yer.
long ranges, and II you sight an enemy that /
bearing east from you and the conditions OF WINE
and weather are such that you would Ike |" nav
him bearing west, Il would take you ali that da,
to get him there Il he does not want to do So DC
cause If you try 10 steam around him he silnpl
keeps you hearing abcnm, while turning in II
enormous circle. and after you have turne
around about half way. he will turn and 80 III
other way.
.In the oldcn days when they fought Mt sfoI
range It was possible by certain ,nancuvcrings {
get the advantage of position With reference I
the wind and sea, ctc. 1t Is nowhere near so cas-
to do It now. In fact. ii Is practically Impossible
despite superiority In speed, within %reaso'iabl
!. limits"
Because Of her unusual features q ship pa
termed after the idea of the Scl,ot'clh would NJ
have TO bother So much about advantage of pos
tion. Even while nearly buried under stormy sea
Il would he practicable for her commander
. bring his broadside of torpedoes to bear. M
every ono Of those weapons would he a good de-
more formidable than the biggest Of nrmor.picr
Ing projectiics.