New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30

lUnprepared,
Declares Grant
Commander Of Underwater
Craft Previous to War
Says Force Was Entire
ly Inadequate in 1917
Appeals We're Ignored
Testifies That 1t Required
Two Years Propaganda
to Get 8OO-Ton Boats

WASHINGTON, March 29.-Amcri-
can submarines and many second line
battleships were not in condition for
war service in April, 1917, Rear Ad-
miral A. ". Grant, then commanding
the submarine force, to-day told
the Senate committee investigating
charges against the Navy Departments
conduct of the war. The submarines
were too small, of too short cruising
radius, mounted small guns and con-
tanned poorly designed engines, the
officer testified. The battleships re-
quired complete overhauling to fit
them for service. he said.
Admiral Grant commanded the sub
marine force for two years prior to
the war and later commanded a battle
ship force of the Atlantic fleet with
the rank of vice admiral. He testified
that, beginning in 1915, he had urged
construction of S00-ton submersibles,
but received no support in the depart
ment, most of the opposition coming
from the general board. Later, he
said. the 800-ton boats were authorized
and built.
Entirely Inadequate, Charge
The navy's submarine force was en-
tirely inadequate to meet the demands
of war against Germany, Admiral
Grant said.
ut took nearly two years of propa-
ganda to get the Navy Department to
realize the Importance of building sub
marines capable of combating the
S00ton German Uboats," the witness
declared
Admiral Grant said that soon after
the United States entered the war he
was instructed to prepare and send
fifteen submarines abroad. He told
the department, he declared, that if
such an expedition arrived at the
Azores Islands safely the vessels would
have to be laid up for repairs practi-
cally all of the time, as they had been
since they were commi ssioned.
Four submarines of the "K" type
finally started overseas, the admiral
said, although one had to be lowed be-
cause neither engine would run He
read the log of the trip to show the
continued engine troubles and minor
casualties that characterized the voy-
age.
XII Was Disabled
When the submersibles reached the
Azores the XII was. entirely disabled,
the officer said. the K-2 was available
for limited service, the KS slightly
better off and the KS entirely ready
for duty. He added that pre-war plans
for the use of submarines contemplated
their operation from bases on the
American coast.
The department was slow to consent
to overhauls for the battleships of his
force, although he had been instructed
that the ships were to be kept in con-
dition for battle, Admiral Grant said.
Not one of his twenty-four vessels
would have remained ahoat if it had
received "serious underwater blow"
in August, 1917, he added, as none of
them had completely water-tight bulk
heads at that time
"If the German fleet had broken
through the British fleet in the sum
mer of 1917, would your force have
been in condition to met the enemy?"
asked Chairman Hale.
Would Have Done Best
eve would have gone out and done
the best we could, but it wouldn't have
been much" was the officers reply.
In reply to a question from Senator
Trammell, Democrat, Florida. the Wit
ness said that the ships Of his force
did 60 to sea and performed practically
the same duty during the war as the
newer vessels. He testified that he
supposed" they were as effective as
the more modern ships Gin this war"
Rear Admiral H. T. Mayo commander
of the Atlantic fleet during the war
now a member of the Navy General
Board, will testify to-morro1y