The sun., 1919-01-30
BATTLE CRUISERS
OUT OF NAVAL BILL
Admiral Sims Induces House
Committee to Look Into
New Types.
HAS FEAR OF MISTAKE
Measure to Hold Up Immediate
Construction in View of
Peace Congress.
Specta, Despdtch to TUE SrS,


WAsHISoroN, Jan. c9.--The naval bill
; embodying new three year building
| programme will be reported out OF the
House Naval Comyittee on Friday with
one radical change In the programme
| sought by the Administration. No pro-
| vision for building battle cruisers now
will be contained in the bill. THE suN
learned to-day.
As originally submitted TO Congress by
Secretary Daniels the new three year
or ten superdroadnoughts. six battle
| cruisers, ten scout cruisers and 1875 fight
Ing ships OF smaller types
! The exact numbers and classes are to
I be determined when naval experts have
had sufficient opportunity to acquaint
themselves with the forward strides
| made in destroyer and submarine con-
! structioa by other naval Powers during
the world war.
Sims's Advice Followed.
Admiral Sims has convinced the Naval
| present specifications for six battle cruis-
ers might be a mistake at this time on
account of the progress abroad in design
| Ing vessels OF this type since 1914 The
| type OF ship II was intended to build for
the American Navy would have had a
| speed OF six knots in excess OF any ship
| OF the same type In the world, but, like
| all except a few battle cruisers now IN
| the British navy and building for IT,
| wovld have had TO defensive armament
! Members OF the committee pointed out
| to-day that the new British type OF YES
! sci has changed existing ideas and con-
| ceptions OF battle cruisers This type OF
vessel. In brief IL one having the big
guns OF the Observation-Disclosures. Is
| or 1S inch guns-but considerable,
greater speed through the elimination Of
| the heavy defensive armament OF the
superdreadnought types
| Designs had been perfected for thf
| construction OF a battle cruiser type for
| the American Navy carrying the usua
| big guns but capable OF a speed OF
thirty-five knots on hour. No battle
| cruiser OF the present time has n greater
speed than about twenty-nine knots
members OF the Naval Committee said
| However. the British navy. through
adding greater power TO battle cruisers
| has been able to equip them with !.
! inch belts of arnIor and still maintain
the speed Of about twenty-n!ne knots.
VIII Make Investigation.
| Admiral Sims informed the commute,
OF this new plan OF building fighting
ships and the committee unhesitatinglS
decided to eliminate battle cruisers from
the building programme for the presen
and provide for an investigation into thu
| two types-the extremely fast unarmorec
vessel and the armored vessel still abl'
to maintain the speed hitherto attained
| only by unarmored capital fighting ships
| As predicted IN THE Sun more thar
two months ago the naval bill will carry
a provision to prevent the immediate
outlay OF money for beginning the three
| year programme. Two reasons are al
f, vanced for this by members of the com
mittee One Is that tho American peace
| delegates Still entertain some hope q
| committing the Peace Conference e
agreeing TO a limitation of arnaments
the other is that launching out imme
d,ately into construction Of an enormou!
navy might prove a serious embarrass
ment to the American delegation in thu
discussion OF other points at issue.
The committee has not decided finall,
what form the prevention Of immediate
building shall take. II is practically
certain now. though, that Il will h
either naming a specific date Non whici
appropriations for the new three yea
programme may he available or inelud
ing in the bill the provision that no worl
on the newly authorized vessels shall b.
started prior TO the conclusion of tn
peace deliberations In France.
When the bill is reported II will carr!
provision for an enlisted personnel o
o250O0 men and will provide that al
additional 700 officers may he taken int
the naval establishment from among tn
present reserve officers