Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-16
Great Britain Is Staggered by
Audacity of American Plan,
Fearing Navy Would Have
to Be Rebuilt.
AGREEMENT TO LIMIT
SIZE is POSSIBLE
Enormous Program Under
Consideration Is Advocated
by AdmiralS Mayo and Sims,
Ranking Officers.
10y nosN,se JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE

10y noRNNc JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlsEI
Washington, March 15.-Important
conclusions which probably will be
reflected later at Paris in discussion
OF limitation of national armaments
are expected to grow out of the forth
coming conferences between Secretary
Daniols and his aides and European
admiralty officials. The secretary
sailed today, accompanied by his
three chief technical advisers.
While the main object of the trip
of the American officials is to gain
information upon which the naval de-
partment can base a report to con-
gress relative to the proposal to sub
stitute gigantic composite cruiser bat
tleships for present day capital war
vessels, the fact that such a program
would render all existing fleets obso-
lete and that its cost would he enor-
nous insure, in the view of many Of
ficials here, that the project will be
taken up at the peace conference.
More Than National Question
In the view here even the Ameri
can s5-knot battle cruiser project now
held to await a decision on the greater
question OF composite ships, has in 1T
elements that make it more than q
purely national matter under present
conditions. Officers ~ tn@t 4 on !
hafisiyfs ,tava ,sllls4t u AZ Ass ss1ala MI
other powers must provide similar
ships, as not even Great Britain has
built or building craft of equal eff
cheney in their own particular sphere.
1T is understood that progress toward
the construction of the gigantic bat
tie cruisers, six of which already have
been authorized, has been watched
with some concern by British naval
authorities, since it has appeared
likely they would necessitate addi-
tions to the British naval budget.
There is little doubt among most Of
ficials here that the British would
welcome an international understand
ing at Paris which would eliminate
that source of expenditure.
The standard of fighting ship of to-
day is the uper-dreadnaught, in the
American and British navies vessel
with a speed of approximately twen-
ty-three knots, an armament of
twelve 16-inch guns; an armor belt
vary from twelve to fourteen inches
in thickness and a displacement of
about $4,000 tons. Such ship costs
about $20,000,000. The United States
has ten of them under construction
or authorized and the naval appro-
priaton bill which failed in the final
hours of the last congress, authorized
ten more for the next three years.
Would Cost Fcrty Millions.
The proposed ships now urged by
some American officers would have
a speed of twenty-nine knots, carry
twelve 16-inch guns, an armor belt
of from twelve to fourteen inches,
displace about 5000 tons, and cost
$40, 900, 900. 1t would carry the same Of
fensive and defensive power as the
super r-dreadnaughts and would make
six knots an hour greater speed. the
price of this increased speed, the Of
ficers declare, would be doubled
cost of construction and almost dou-
BILE, the latter carry with it far-reach-
ing engineering changes in harbors,
navy wards and dry docks to accom-
modate such monster craft. No such
vessels have been built or projected
by any other power so far as known.
"The composite" battleship, for
which Admiral Mayo, commander-in-
chief of the Atlantic fleet Vice Ad-
miral Sims, commanding abroad, and
many other high officers who have
served overseas. have contended, is
supposed to represent the maximum
in speed obtainable without the sac
rifice of gun power or armor.
Among naval men it generally is
conceded that there is no question as
to relative fighting value of the exist
ing 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 affirma-
tive the strategic and tactical value
of the six knots increase in speed
must be determined by consensus OF
professional naval opinion before so
radical a departure in design could
be embarked upon. Officers insist
they must protect their minds to fu-
ture battles to say whether the addi-
tional speed is worth what it would
cost.
The alternative. officers say, is the