The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-30
The> ROTOR oc A MARINE
STEAM TURBINE ~<
Protection of Our
Long Coast Line
Calls for Graft of
High Speed and
Great Offensive
Powers
Mr.. Daniels elucidates.

Further Mr. Daniels elucidates:
THE difference of opinion began
last year when the British Adml-
rally decided to alter the plans for
the battleship Hood-to make her
composite battleship and battle
cruiser. In effect the decision waD
to build very high speed battle
ship, sacrificing gun power to some
extent for speed, but retaining the
defensive armor of ship of the
limo. The Hood will carry eight
10 inch rifles, full battleship armor
and have speed OF a little morV
than thirty knots an hour. Hot
displacement is in excess Of 400
tons"
Inferior TO American Type.
AS is clearly evident, the Hood 10
compromise type. standing between The
oattleship and the battle cruiser, and
her main armament is composed "
guns that are distinctly inferior in
reach and destructive power to the
1t inch rifles with which Il has been
the intention to equip our battle
cruisers. Therefore. ships OF the
American battle cruiser type would be
able TO chooec their own position and
point OF attack ana to maintain this at
q range greater than that OF the Is
inch weapon, thus offsetting in a.
measure the scantier armor defence
with which we have provided them for
obvious reasons
NO wonder, then, that men like Al
mirals Badger Fletcher, Winterhalter
and others OF the General Board arc
strongly In favor OF completing those
ships. These mature experts have I'M
questionably had at their disposal the
same IL not greater wealth OF informa-
ton that their opposing brother Of
hcers have had, and, what Is more.
they have probably given the data
more consideration and painstakins
study. viewed in the light OF our needs.
To bark back to the battle OF Jut-
land, we know that the German Grand
lilEh sea Fleet escaped annihilation
manly because OF low visibility of ma
lures making. The scientists Of this
country have developed n system OF
camouhage which can be confidently
relied upon to produce man made low
Visibility under many circumatan noes I'm
which otherwise ships would be
readily discernible. Again. the Sub
marine Defence Association, and nar-
ticularly Mr. Lindcll T. Bates. have
given TO us the automatic course inti.
Gator. 1t Is designed TO enable yes
sells to steer sinuous, spiral courses, AZ
fording greater safety than zlgzas-
Rlng. ana permitting higher speed to be-
maintained while carrying them marc
directly toward their objective.
crucial period in the manouyrirg
or ship under fire Is that in which
she turns sharply around on her course
and slows up and for the nonce makes
no material change Ia her distance
from the foe 1t is then that tho an
emy's salros are more apt 70 ind THAR
mark-'the turning period giving the
gunpointer the time lie so earnestly
longs for in which to correct his ele-
walton and to make sure Of his shots
"straddling' his target.
At every SHIFT in zigZagging n critI-
cal mdm'rt OF this s~it occurS. Nv
means or the automatic course indi-
Gator tho snip Is swung while continu-
ally advancing. and every moment sh.
Is assuming another position and a
different range In relation 20 the hos,
tile force. II should be obvious that
this, quito apart from simplifying ,ha
problem Vt the man at the helm. t.nds
to confuse tho foes spoilers and IN
neutralizo the work of the Runpoint-
era. In short, the chances OF soorinv
hits arc greatly reduced.
a thirty five knot battle cruissr
scientifically aud cunnlnRly camou-
FACED ana further aided by means "a
this ingenious course indicator. would
prove an extremely elusive target az
battle ranges and he able TO bring her
great speed and gun power to play nm
der conditions that would both con.,,.a
and imperil any craft seeking 10 close
with her.
Battle cruisers of this sort would II.
able to turn tho Sank OF a foes main
fighting force on the high seas and
either compel retirement or drive tho
enemy in the direction Of it's own gun.
porting OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or across
an unexpected mine field or within
reach Of an amhushing fiotillu of subj
merged submarines.
Why. then. hold up work on our
battle cruisers? II the composite hat
tie cruiser and battieship Is TO come it's
scope Of service ana It's field OF effeo-
tive work will he different from thosa
or the battle cruiser pure ana sImnls.
The General Bonrd of our navy has
probably recognized this ana therefore
urged the completion OF the six ships