Evening star., 1919-03-16

Department can base report to
substitute gigantic composite cruiser
battleships for present-day capital
war vessels, the facts that such a
program would render all existing
fleets obsolete and that it's cost would
be enormous insure, in the view of
will be taken up at the peace con-
ference.
Far-Reaching Questions.
Pending the return of the Secre
tary and more complete intraservice
discussion, naval officials generally
are inclined to defer judgment as to
the advisability of adopting the COM
posite ship program. They take the
view that, even in it's narrowest and
strictly American aspect, the pro-
posal raises questions of such far
reaching nature that individual
opinions should have no weight in
arriving at the answer. Only the
consensus Of the seasoned and
trained judgment of the service. they
argue. should be considered by Con-
gress when the departments report
is presented.
In the view here even the Ameri-
can thirty-f1S-knot battle cruiser
project, now held up to await a de-
cision on the greater question of COM
posite ships, has in it elements that
make it more than a purely national
matter under present conditions. Of
fcers say that if competitive naval
building is to continue, other powers
must provide similar ships. as not
even Great Britain has built or is
building craft Of equal efficiency in
their own peculiar sphere
Watched With Some Concern.
It n understood that progress to-
ward the construction Of the gigantic
battle cruisers, six Of which alreday
have been authorized, has been watch
ed with some concern by British naval
authorities. since it has appeared like
ly they would necessitate additions to
the British naval budget. There is
little doubt among most officials here
that the British would welcome an in
te-national understanding at Paris
which would eliminate that course of
expenditure. s-s' 20
The standard lighting ship Of today
is the superdreadnaughp. in the
American and British navies a ves-
sel with a speed of approximately
twenty-three knots, an armament of
twelve sixteen-inch guns; an armor belt
from twelve to fourteen
inches in thickness and displacement
of about $4,000 tons Such a ship costs
about 100000 The United States
has ten of them under construction
or autorized and the naval appropria-
tion bill which failed in the final
hours of the last Congress authorized
ten more for the next three years.
The proposed ship now urged by
some American officers would have
speed of twenty-nine knots, carry
twelve sixteen-inch guns. an armor
belt of from twelve to fourteen inches,
displace about $1,000 tons and cost
100000. 1t would carry the same
offensive and defensive power as the
and would make
six knots an hour greater speed.
Price Of Increased Speed.
The price of this increased speed, Of
ficers declare. would be a doubled cost
Of construction and almost double
size, the latter carrying with it far
engineering changes in har-
bors, navy yards and dry docks to
such monster craft. No
such vessels have been built or pro-
jected by any other power SO far as
known.
This composite" battleship, for
which Admiral Mayo, commander-in-
chief of the Atlantic feet; Vice Ad-
miral Sims, commanding abroad, and
many other high officers who have
served overseas, have contended, is
supposed to represent the maximum
attainable in speed without the sacri-
1ce of gun power or armor.
Among naval men it generally is
conceded that there is no question as
to the relative fighting value of the
existing and proposed types. Having
six knots greater speed, the composite
craft would have a tremendous ad-
vantage, but it is contended that even
with all mechanical and economic
questions answered in the affirmative,
the strategic and tactical value of
the six knots increase in speed must
be determined by consensus of pro-
fessional naval opinion before so
radical a departure in design could
be. embarked upon. Oficers must
project their minds to future battles,
To- say whether the additional speed
is worth what it would cost.
Alternative for Navy.
The alternative, officers say, is the
present program to which the. general
board of the Navy clings-super-
for the line and thirty
battle cruisers as a power
full scouting wing.
There Is no present thought Of any
design. The British
Hood. nearing completion,
IL such a compromise, and valueless
IN the American view.