The Washington herald., 1921-10-04
NAVY WILL use
SPEEDY LINER
FOR FLAGSHIP
Hopes to Solve Strategy
Problems in Field
Maneuvers.
INVOLVES PHASE
OF ARMS PARLEY
Basis of Limitation May
Depend on Americas
Merchant Marine.
BY ROBERT J. BENDER,

BY ROBERT J. BENDER.
The Great Northern, used as an
army transport during the war and
because of her size and speed,
eminently fitted for passenger and
cargo service in Americas mer-
chant marine. Is en- route from san
Domingo to an Atlantic Coast navy
yard for an unique naval expert
ment.
1t Is the purpose OF the navy to
fit up the Great Northern for use
as Admiral Hillary Jones flagship
in the great fleet maneuvers next
January when the Atlantic anl
Pacific divisions unite off the
Panama Canal for gun practice and
drill.
Problem for World Navfes.
For two reasons the experiment
is being watched by foreign powers
with deep interest. In the first
place the flagship problem has al
ways been a serious one in world
| navies. The French navy has fol-
lowed the practice of establishing
its naval board OF strategy almost
exclusively on shore duty. In
event of a contemplated action the
commander-in-chief of the navy
boards fast cruiser and dashes
out at the head of his fleet. the
board of strategy. however. re-
maining. for the most part, on land.
The British navy has followed
the practice of having the COM
mander in chief on his flagship
with his leading strategists with
him. In event of action he would
leave the flagship and board a
cruiser in order to be closer to the
line of battle.
Decides ON Experiment.
proper facilities for carrying the
board of strategy along on any
lighting ship have created a prob
lem which the United States gov
ernment is trying to solve. 1t has
been decided to experiment with
the fast liner. with its greater
room - facilities. to determine
whethef this sort of vessel after
all Is not the ideal vessel for a
flagship. A boat of the type of the
Great Northern. for example, while
not so fast as a cruiser, is still
faster than any battleship-such a,
is usually used as a flagship-and
far more commodious. The Great
Northern could be and probably will
be equipped so that the entire
board of strategy can easily be &C.
commodated for its work aboard
her during the January maneuvers
Involves Naval Power.
But while the experiment WITH
the Great Northern is purely one Of
strategy in which foreign power.
are interested because they, too
particularly the British. have been
seeking a solution of :he prob! an
Of room for the board of strategy
there is another interesting phase
of the entrance of such vessels into
naval service.
1t has been realized for some time
that during the Forthcoming arm!
conference the question OF limiting
lighting ships must of neccssit,
take into consideration each nations
merchant marine. The merchan
marine plays a part from two an.
giles. First. a country having 6
large merchant marine-and thiS i:
the contention of British and Amer.
lean naval authorities must OF
necessity have a large navy to Pre-
ltect it.
Can Convert Merchant ships.
4 ON the other hand. it is admitted
that even IL actual fighting ship
were reduced.in number those coIn
tries having large merchant marine.
would still have a dominating posi-
ton because of the ease with which
merchant ships could be ccnverte,
into vessels of war.
The proposed conversion of IA line
, of the type of the Great Northern
into the flagship FIR the commando
OF the American fleet test;tics to iii
potential use to which a merchan
ship might be Lurnei in event :
war. And while the Great Norther
VIII not be armed as garshir
such a course would be ch.y anoIhe
step which, in an EMERGENCY soul
be eacily taaen.
Plans Kept Secret.
There is no doubt that merchan
marines will play a conspicuous par
!, in the arms conference proceeding,
In fact. authorities here regard thi
topic of such probable importanc
that, despite jnsistent demands fror
Inside and outside of Congress TO
! more specific details as to the fu
/ ture intentions of the United State
. Shipping Board on the Question O
the merchant marine, little is forth
coming OF past alleged malad
ministration of the Shipping Boar
there is an abundance of informa
ton; of the present plans for reor
ganization there are frequent off
cial announcements-bu of the fu
, ture, little.
,. The basis Of this government
naval limitations is to be kept secre
until the conference meets. And 1
the secret are the future plans fc
J tha hnnarican marchanf m q rina fo