The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-03-11
Secretary of Navy and Party of
Experts Will Leave This
Week.
WANT DATA ON NEW SHIPS
Secretary of War Baker Will
Leave About April and
Close Up Business Operations
Overseas.

washington, March 1O.-Secre
tary Daniels and a party of Ameri-
can naval experts will leave for Eu-
rope this week to discuss with al
lied naval officials the best type OF
capital warships to be built in the
future, based on the lessons gained
In the great war. Because of con
flicting opinions on this subject
among American officers, the secre-
tary has been asked to submit a de-
finite recommendation to the mex
congress in December.
1t was also learned that Secretary
Baker would sail for Europe about
April i to close up the business op-
erations OF the American expeditions
airy forces. He will be absent about
six weeks and probably will arrive
overseas before Secretary Daniels
returns home. Thus President Will
son and the heads OF both the army
and navy probably will be away from
the country at the same time-a sit
uation which many officials said was
without precedent
The naval secretary will be accom-
panied by Rear Admiral TAYLOR.
chief OF the bureau Of construction
and repair; Griffin. chief OF the bu-
reau OF steam engineering; Earle
chief OF the bureau OF ordnance. and
Commander Foote. his personal aide.
The party will be Joined overseas by
Admiral Benson, chief of the bureau
or operations, who is attached to the
American peace delegation. and
Vice Admiral Sims, commanding all
American naval forces in Europcan n
waters.
Will Study New Warships.
Mr.. Daniels and his party will sail
from New York on the TRANSPORT Je-
viathan next Saturday and will go
hrst to Paris to confer with the
French admiralty. Later they will
visit London and Rome and prob
ably will be away month or more
Plans for the return trip have not
yet Deen made.
While all deductions to be drawn
from war experiences will be dis
cussed in detail, the American mis-
sion will address itself particularly
to the question of future types OF
capital ships. 1t has been the judg-
ment OF the navy general board.
charged with fixing the military
characteristics OF new ships, tha
the United States should continue
to build dreadnoughts OF constantly
increasing power and battle cruis
ers. This view is held by Rear Ad
miral Fletcher, chairman OF the gen
eral board, and former commander
Of the Atlantic fleet
Admiral Mayo. commander OF the
Atlantic feet. Vice Admiral Sims and
Read Admiral Rodman, the three
officers who have held the highest
posts of the American service in the
war zone. believe that a composite
ship combining the speed OF a bat
tie cruiser with the gun power and
armor OF a battleship, should be sub
stituted. These officers have been
particularly impressed by British ex-
rer'ments toward a composite craft
with the construction of the Hood.
one of the so-called British hush
ships.
Secretary Daniels has not taken
sides in the dispute. nor have his
three chief technical advisers. the
men who will design and construct
whatever ships may be decided up-
on, expressed any opinion. 1t is the
serretary's purpose TO give these Of
fcers full opportunity to go in all
OF the involved technical question
as 10 design during the trim abroad
IN order that he may have the bene
~ OF their advice when il become,
necessary for him to finally deter
mine future ship types
Secretary Daniels was invited b,
the British admiralty to visit En-
rome during the war. but he was ~
7h'e 10 accent that invitation. How
ever, Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
who will be acting secretary Will,
Mr.. Daniels is overseas. twice via
Continued on Para kl