The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24
NEW WARSHIPS
OUT OF DATE IS
EXPERTS VIEWS
Vessels Now Being Built for
U. S. Fleet Useless, They
Declare.
FAR BEHIND EUROPE
Young Officers Plead for
New Devices With Small
Success.
CHIEFS REFUSE TO TALK
Invisible Weapon Controlled
by Radio, Pointed Out as
the Real Need.
CHIEFS REFUSE TO TALK

A Washington despatch of October
20 which appeared in THE New YORK
HERALD has aroused storm of protest
among naval experts in this city. The
headline over the despatch read 1.-TWO
Schools of Naval Opinion" and repre-
scented the views of the chiefs of the
Navy Department and of others high
n authority or reputation on the
future utility of the battleship as a
means of national defence.
1t was pointed out by those inter-
viewed, including the best posted naval
experts in New York and technical men
OF international reputation, that while
naval chiefs on this question, at least
there are not two schools abroad, for
England and practically every other
great nation except the United States
has definitely abandoned the building
OF major units because of their hope
less futility in competition with the
mower weapons of naval warfare which
were developed in America and Europe
during the war.
The Washington correspondent had
interviewed practically every chief
naval Office. connected with construc-
ton and the PRONUNCIATION of policy,
and found that they were unit in re-
flsing to talk for publication concern
irg the article which appeared in THE
NEW YORK HERALD last Sunday, in
which for the first time there has APP
peared In print an outline Of the newer
and more potent weapons now under
full Speed development by other great
nations.
Muzzled by Civilian Chiefs.
This unwillingness to talk for publica-
tion on so delicate a subject as the value
or useiessness OF a billion dollar fleet
now building In the United States was
interpreted by those interviewed in New
York as an unqualified admission of be-
ing muzzled by their civilian chiefs.
The Navy Department is in possession
say those best qualified to know. of am
pie information concerning naval devel
opments abroad already known to tech
HlCdl ClTcltS III lnlS Country anu Oh uu
questionable technical data which proves
that the battle ship days are over Ever
aside from political complications II
could not be expected that these mer
would talk willingly.
The most important reason advanced
for the Navy Departments tight shut
policy on the matter of national de-
fence. with which the nation has SC
largely intrusted II, is It's fear of involv-
tvo ,t &c ofx oI.t IL.
Guiding the Chief Executive. who has
so entangled the big navy building pro
gramme with International considera
tions that the programme must go on
right or wrong.
Among younger naval officers Their,
was a concerted complaint that no eff
fort is made to keep the American navy
first In new devices. One of wide ex
perience said: THE unwillingness of the
naval chiefs TO take advice is an ole
failing. 1t has been a matter OF seriou:
concern to the active officers of the
navy for many years. They refused the
breechloading gun for twenty years
and kept Simon Lake. the inventor Of
the only practical submarine. pounding
at the door for ten years until tile res
CO tie world had fleets of them. The!
refused the Fiske torpedoplane until 1
was spectacularly used by the British
and Germans in the world war. ant
even now they claim disbelief IN II.
Defence Fleet Joke.
The navy is organized for using nava
devices, not for their technical creation
All great navies have many year,
since separated the technical from th'
line officers. thus giving some incen
tive to an officer technically inclined
to make that his lifework.
While naval officers deprecated the
departments stubbornness I'm adopting
new devices. technical men found
amusement In the statement of the de-
partment that they were building the
big fleet for defence. II Is pointed out
that 800 mile radio controlled torpedoe,
and other devices outlined in THE New
YORK HERALD's article could at a small
fraction Of the cost Of battle fleets MAKE
our coast impregnable 10 sea attack
unless the enemy gained control of tn,
air. and this. they claimed. Is exactly
what our Navy Department Is making
no effort TO avert.
Invisible weapons. as recently per
fected together with speeds of fifty
knots or more and corrected aim up I,
the moment OF impact, make the bat
tleship. I'm fact, any kind of ship. 10,
visible and vulnerable a target 20 be ,
good risk.
When torpedoes can be made to run