El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-11-29
BRITON BUILDS
LAST BIG
WARSHIP
Sub Cruisers to Replace
Dreadnoughts in
Future Wars.
2O-INCH GUNS
ON NEW SHIPS

I ONDONs Eng, NOV. 29.-Great Brit
l. ian's newest battleship. the Hood,
which viii be given her trials in the
{ latter part OF this month. 10 regarded
/ in some expert naval circles here as
the last super-dreadnought that the
/ admiralty viii build.
That opinion Is not based on any
assumption that the proposed league
[ OF nations viii make naval power su-
] pernuous. but on tho very sound
l opinion that the days OF dreadnousnts
/ are over. Admiral Lord Fisher now
( retired. but whose ideas are mainly
. responsible for what the British navy
Z is today. and admiral Sir Percy
Scott, guunery expert. both believe
that the big above sea battlsship r.
{ IS out OF date. They offer too large a
target
The sea terrors Of the future VIII
mounting 20-inch guns or larger.
That is the accepted theory Of the
British admiralty today. These IN
der water cruisers viii work with
naval aircraft
That explains why British suthori-
ties. forced by the nations financial
difficulties, can calmly offer scores
Of antiquated warships 20 south
American and other governments, dis
mantle dozens o. other Watercraft ana
reduce the navy straight OF 70 less
than $50, 900 officers and men.
Admiralty experts know that IN
any future war practically al
present first line ships Ct all the
nuVieH IN the world including
Of the United States. viii be ~
Vnlueless a. cardboard cannon.
Against torpedo carrying aircraft
and ships that can stick their guns
through the surface OF the ocean ny
teen miles away. fire and disappear
present day 1attleshlps which cannot
submerge VIII be helpless
Submarine cruisers Of the M type,
which carries a 12-inch gun and IN
stead OF q cheeseboE coming tower
has cancels back hump some fifty
feet long and more than eighteen feet
high. viii drive dreadnoughts from
the sea Experts say there is no rea-
son why an 1s-inch gun should not be
mounted on the Nj type.
The success Of the MI type has so
impressed officials that three sister
ships Of the Hood In early stages OF
construction were abandoned The
Hood was completed mainly because {
construction was far ahead Of the
others and because the admiralty
wanted 20 see how ideas gained in
warfare would actually work out
IH Fast Cruiser
The Hood is fusion OF dread I
noght and the fast cruiser. Her dis I
placement IS 1920 tons. length $50 3
feet. horsepower $4,000 and her speed I
81 knots. Internationally she IS the (
most powerful big warship Britain 4
has ever built The RenoWn. which I
previously held high honors, is $50 I.
feet long. Of $500 tons. 10000 horse J
power and does 80 knots.
The Hood has twelve Inches OF ar 3
NOR plate at the Waterllne, the Re- I
lown half that The Hood has eight !
l5-inch, y b-5-inch and four 4-inch I
guns. the latter for anto-aircraft fire,
while the RenoWu's battery comprises
six 15-inch and IL 4-inch guns, with z
two 3-inch anti aircraft guns. The
Hoods furnaces are adapted for oil
fuel only, OF which the ship can carry /
5000 tons supply.
The Hood Euuhouses are protected l
by armor from II 20 Is Inches thick
while the guns can be given higher i
elevation than those on any other i
British dreadnought- The deck has
lrmOr plating varying from one TO /
.hree inches thickness. the coming 7
tower IS protected by armor plate
from nine TO eleven inches thick.
Against under water explosion the
Hood Is protected by a bulge OF bis
.er. Both above and below water the
Hood has greater protection by
leavy armor plate than any other
Trials win Be held of Davenport +
md after her commission she prob
IDLY will be assigned TO admiral
Charles Madden, commander OF the
Atlantic fleet. as flagship.