Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-11
NAVY MAY GIVE Up
NEW CRUISER PLAN
Secretary Daniels Orders Suspen-
pension of Work on Six
Vessels.
DEPARTMENT CHIEFS DIFFER
Officials Overseas Advocate Com
posite Type Of Fast Battle
ship With Big Guns.
DEPARTMENT CHIEFS DIFFER
'By Associa ted Press


ol the navy. involving an expenditure
OF nearly 5000, 100000, Will be aban-
doned in favor or 9 new type of cruiser
ba''!eship was indicated today by an
announcement. that Secretary Daniels
had ordered suspension of work on
inc SIX thirty -fvc-knot cruisers al
ready authorized until decision as 10
'hc iuture type OF capital ship could
be reached
There Is vide difference of opinion
among American naval officers as 10
whether the SLOW battlcsh!p and the
.as' cruiser should not give way III,
me 'uturc TO q ship combining the
power OF the one aud nearly the speed
OF the other. and because of TINS fact
congressional committees have deferred
actipn on six additional cruisers unt,i
q tuil report on new types can h., made
by the department.
~ Is 70 gather Information for this
rcoort that Secretary Daniels ard ht.
three chief technical advisers viii sal;
Saturdn! for Europe They will he
mt ovIrscas By Admiral Benson, CHIEF
81 operations. and Vice Admiral Siins.
and upon their return home before
Congress meets in extra session. prob-
ABLY in the carly summer a general
conference will be held, at which :,
t'..rs sor,.E i;, opinion OF experienced ON
'EpeS OF capita! ships should be bu,I,.
This statement was authorized to-
ua% by Secretary Daniels:
MAYO, SIMS AND BENSON
ADVOCATE FAST SHIPS
Tire conclusion relating TO the ,ypc
II capital ships resulting from = close
study Of naval activities OF the pres
en- war has created SUCH difference
OF opinion among naval experts that
the Secretary Of the Navy has directed
the temporary suspension of the build
'nG Of the iarse battle ,ruisers.
chief Of the United States Atlantic
Fleet when before the Committee on
Naval Affairs. OF the House stated in
his opinion the most effective capital
ship OF today is high-speed battle
SHIP which carries the great guns
power and arsnor protection of bat
high speed Of battle cruiser. Such
naval experts as Admiral Benson and
Admiral Sims as result of their OBJ
the opinion of Admiral Mayo. Many
OF the high ranking officers OF the
Navy Department likewise concur in
peris OF the general board are OF the
opinion the battle cruiser as planned
should be proceeded with the battle
ships OF slower speed. greater gun
power and n greater protection he like
wise constructed.
SMALL AMOUNT or WORK
COMPLETED On CRUISERS
Because Of the difference OF opin-
ions among naval experts, the larger
slSo.c00.o0o and 5000. $1,000 and the
great question Of lighting efficiency
being involved. the Secretary OF the
Navy has directed temporary suS2en-
sion OF the construction Of the battle
cruisers. Little Of the work on the
hull has been done. Some Of the cleo
trical machinery has been started: but
II is not contemplated the delay Of TWO
months or so Will be such as TO seri-
ously interfere with the proper de-
,,--,z H. -
oil the difference OF opinion among
experts and TO study naval lessons
taught by the war that the Secretary
of the Navy is taking the chiefs OF
ment with him 10 Europe 10 study the
question with naval experts and OBJ
a: is possible while abroad from studies
Of foreign plans and specifications.
FIRST CONTROVERSY
IN PAST FEW YEARS
The navy has not had similar con-
troversy over ship designs for ter;
board, charged with deciding upon the
military characteristics of new ships,
disagreed with the opinion of the high
officers who have had experience over
seas in the present war. On the board
are two former commanders of the
Atlantic Fleet. Rear Admiral Badger
and Fletcher. They believe the con,
struction of both DreadnouGhts and
battle cruisers should continue.
The difference of opinion began last
year when the British Admiralty de-
cided to alter the plans for the bat
,lcship Hood. TO make her composite
battleship and battle cruiser In ci-
feet the decision was TO build very
high speed battlcship. sacrificing gun
retaining the defensive armor of a
ship OF the line. The Hood will carry
eight ffteen-inc rifles. full battieship
armor and have a speed OF "a iittie
n
displa is in excess of 10000 tons
ORIGINAL PURPOSE 10
HALT GERMAN RAIDERS
1t is understood the original purpose
of The construction Of the Hood was
10 produce vessel TO meet tho raids
of the German battle cruisers on the
British coast. Officers who have nor
taken sides in the dispute here say. so
far as they know Great Britain has
not laid down any additional ships
OF this type.
The advantages of very high speed
hattleship, however, appealed strongly
to American officers overseas, and they
have urged this construction so strong
~ the whole building program here for
time threatened TO be blocked by
failure Of the naval establishment to
agree on what was desirable. II was
originally planned to bring Nicc-Ad-
miral Sims home as head of the gem
cral board in order that differences
might he worked out there. but he pre-
OF which he was assigned in naval or
ders made public today.
Examining the Hood design, some
officers said the gun power OF this
huge vessel was OF little moro than
half OF the broadside weight Of the
new American DrcadnauShts carrying
| twelve si%tcen-inch guns.
CLAIM SUCH VESSELS
WOULD COST S40.0DO.OOO
! Some officers have estimated that TO
get such gun power in ship that
would approach thirty-knot speed
| and at the same time carry.ful bat
| ileship protection would require n 55.
| 00O-ton shin Of about 900 foot length,
| the cost OF which would be not less
| than S40.000.009.
One effect, ii was said. of tho adop-
! tion of the cruiser battleship program
| would be to render obsolete all exist
ing battleshlps, The speed OF these
new-type vessels would be useless in
individual ships. officers said. and to
construct an entire fleet OF them would
| present stupendoue cost. 1t was
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