The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-21
TWO SCHOOLS OF
U. S. NAVAL OPINION
Younger Men Say New En-
gines Are Replacing Old De-
fensive Forms.
URGE AIRPLANE VESSELS
Higher Officers Satisfied Cap
ital Ship Will Remain Unit
of Construction.

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New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. G.. Oct. 20.
Naval experts and students Of naval
warfare have been greatly aroused by
the article published in THE New YORK
HERALD last Sunday indicating that the
vast naval plans Of the United States
may be obsolete on completion. The
array of facts has awakened a storm
OF comment and commanded the atten-
tion Of all interested In the navy.
Senator L. Heisler Ball OF Delaware.
Of the Senate Committee on Naval hf-
fairs, to-day expressed the ceepest con-
Germ on the subject. He said he had no
doubt the next Congress would appro-
PIRATE larger sums OF money for the
purpose of experimentation and develop
rnent Of new instrumentalties of war
fare. such as radio control. aeroplanes
and devices such as those suggested by
John Hugh O'Neill and Ward Leathers.
Practically all OF the chief naval Off
GERS connected with construction and
the PRONUNCIATION Of policy were inter-
viewed by THE New YoRK HERALD to :
day. Most Of them We're already famil-
lar with the subject matter discussed In
THE New YORK HERALD's article, but
were unit In refusing to talk for pub
LEGATION at this time.
A War of Opinion.
1t is evident that war OF opinion is
In progress in both army and navy.
The younger school In both branches OF
the service maintains that the time has
come to realize more fully tSat the
aeroplane. the radio controlled subma-
rinc and torpedo and other new engines
Of naval warfare are taking the place
OF the old forms of naval offence and
defence.
Naval chiefs take exception to the
claim that European countries have
abandoned construction OF capital ships
because Of their alleged belief that they
have become obsolete. They admit that
construction of these capital ships has
stopped In Italy. France and Great
Britain In the case OF the first two
countries mentioned, they cay the reason
for this stoppage in construction is due
wholly TO lack OF funds. Great Britain.
they claim, has stopped construction
because It emerged from the war with
such preponderance of sea power that
further construction OF that type of ship
was not necessary for the time being.
They admit the construction of Britain's
newest alrplane ship. the Eagle. which
transports feet OF aeroplanes for ttili-
cation In naval operations. but say they
are keeping abreast OF this new form OF
construction by Transforming the former
United States collier Jupiter into an
airplane-carrying ship, which will De
known as the Langley. although they
admit il will not have the carrying
capacity of the Eagle.
stick TO older Forms.
The high naval officers with whom
THE NEW YORK HERALD correspondent
talked also say they are experimenting
In radio control and. they point TO the
recent experiment by which the battle
ship Indiana was controlled by radio
from the Iowa at distance OF seven
miles to degree which made IL possible
to control the propeller and the throttle
OF the engine. maaPuvring II at viii rs
showing the progress which the navy
has made. But through all comment OF
thu navy chiefs ran the persistent belief
that the capital chip remains and will
remain the unit OF naval construction
The theory upon which the American
naval policy is based Is that weapons Of
defence have kept pace with those Of
offence and that the American Navy is
built for defence. They point out that
the German Navy would not have been
so successful with the submarines II II
had not been for the fact that the com
MERGE they attacked had to enter tho
neck OF a funnel TO approach its desti-
nation. They point out that vessels APP
preaching the widely extended American
coast would be much less susceptible TO
attack from submarines. They lack
faith in the suggestions put forward
by Mr.. O'Nelll and his associate. Mr..
Leathers that submarines can be de-
velnped 10 run at great speed. They
argue that capacity for offence agairst
the United States rests In ability to land
troops here In large numbers and that
these troops must be carried In surface
vessels. Their policy OF construction is
that aeroplanes must meet aeroplanes.
destroyer Will meet destroyer and that
after that the contest will be between
the capitaI ships.
Opposed 10 this theory is that of the
younger school. which is preparing its
offensive against what Il regards as the
antiquated theories OF the men now In
power, welded to old ideals. These
young officers quote Marshal Foch OF the
French army as saying that hereafter no
army will be able 10 move until II has
secured control OF the air. and they be-
lieve the same theory applies to naval
opera tons.
These younger men in the service
claim no real progress will be made
until the United States has followed the
example OF Great Britain and has es-
tablished separate air department.
which viii coordinate all branches OF
the service--Army. Navy and Postoffice
and which will have the incentive to
accept more cordially ideas presented by
private and commercial interests.
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