Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-16
DANIELS AND ADVISERS SAIL
 FOR EUROPE
Will Gather Information for
 Navy Report.
PROGRAM MAY REIN
 DER FLEETS OBSOLETE
Naval Officials Refuse to Discuss the Far-Reaching Effect of
 New Plans.

Washington, March 15-Important conclusions are expected to grow out of the forthcoming conference be- tween Secretary Daniels and his aids and European admiralty officials. The secretary sailed today accom- panied by his three technical advisers.
 While the main object of the trip of the American officials is to gath CT information upon which the navy department can base a report to Con- gress relative to the proposal to sub- , stitute gigantic composite cruiser hattleships for present day capital was vessels ,the fact that such pro- gram would render all existing fleets obsolete and that it's cost would be enormous, ensure, in the view of many officials, that the project will be taken at the peace conference.
 Pending the return of the secre- tary and more complete intra-ser- vice discussion, naval officials gener- ally are inclined to defer judgement. They take the view that even in it's narowest and strictly American as- pect, the proposal raises questions of such far reaching nature that indi- vidual opinions should have no weight. Only the consensus of the sea- soned an dtrained judgement of the service, they argue, should be con- sidered by Congress when the depart r1ent's report is presented.
 { Question International. l In the view here, even the Ameri- can 35 knot battle cruiser project now held to await decision on the great CT question of composite ships has in it elements that make it more than purely national matter under pre- sent conditions. Officers say that if i extensive naval building is to con- tinue, other powers must provide similar ships sas not even Great Brit ain has built or is building craft of equal efficiency in their own pecu- liar sphere.
 Progress toward the construction of the gigantic battle cruisers, six of which already have been authoriz- ed has been watched with some con- cern by British naval authorities since it has appeared likely they would necessitate additions to the British naval budget. There is still doubt among most officials here that the British are international under standing at Paris which would eli minate that source of expenditure.
 The standard fighting ship of to- day is the superdreadnaught in the American and British navies, vessel with a speed of approximately 23 knots, ar armament of 12, 16-inch guns; an armor belt varying from 12 to IA inches in thickness and dis placement of about 35,O0O tons.
 Cost 20 Millions.
 Such ship costs about $20, ,00O. The United States has ten of them under construction or authorized and the naval appropriation bill, which failed in the final hours of the last congress, authorized ten more for the next three years.
 The proposed ship would have speed of 29 knots, carry twelve 16- inch guns, an armor belt of from 12 to IA inches, displace about 55,000 tons and cost $40,000,000. It would carry same offensive and defensive power as the superdreadnaughts and would make six knots an hour great CT speed. The price of this increas- ed speed, officers declare, would be g double cost of construction and al most double size, the latter carrying with it far reaching engineering changes in harbors, navy yards and dry docks to accomodate such mons ter craft.
 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 obtainable in speed without the sac rifice of gun power or armor. No Compromise Design. The alternative, officers sayv IS the present program to which the general board of the navy clings-super- 'dreadnaughts fo rthe line and35 knot . battle cruisers as a powerful scout ing wing. There is no present thot of any compromise design. The British battleship Hood, nearing completion, is such compromise and , yalueless in the American view. While the Hood vii lhave speed of , 28 or 29 knots, her eight 15-inch r gunsmeasure as seven to twelve in gun power against ships already afloat and with 9 to Il inch armor, her protection is as nine to twelve. n She is regarded here as a freak ship , rot likely to re reproduced as a type !? bv the British or any other navy. l The Hood does, however, point the way toward the composite cruiser , ,hattleshiD