The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-01-27
MYSTERIOUS DEVELOPMENT on
INVENTION Is TALKED OF
AMONG NATIONS.
SUBMARINE OR AlRPLANeS7
Discoveries, Il u Rurored, VIII Make
the 6attleship obsoiets-our Navy
Department Seemingly 10 Giving
Matter Little Attention.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.


Gus hints that important discoveries
have been made In naval warfare.
Whether these discoveries are inven-
lions or advances In naval science re-
sulting from observation Of operations
during the late war, is not disclosed"
The quotation comprises the hrst
two sentences Of an editorial which
has just appeared in the Washington
Post.
Last summer In New York city ru.
NOR was current In circles which may
be called scientific that complete
changes were coming In naval opera
lions, and that the nation which should
cling to present-day methods. and
keep Its eyes closed to developments,
would find itself speedily out Of any
conflict which might come.
There was some thing even more
definite than rumor concerning this
matter. II was said specifically that
the Navy department Of the United
States had been given the details of
an Invention which would make the
battleship obsolete, and that while
the department apparently was not
paying much attention to the informa-
ton which had been put before 1t, the
navy Offices of other countries had
been investigating inventing and ex-
perimenting along lines parallel to
those which Il was suggested the Unit
Ell States should follow.
No one knows, of course, definitely
just what form Of thing It is with
which investigation, invention and ex-
pertinent are concerning themselves.
There are two contrary stories. One
IL that a new submarine has been in
vented which. without any danger to
itself. can put battleships and cruis-
ers out Of commission at will. and
ments have come about so rapidly
that battleships will be unable to
make any. adequate resistance to at
tacks from above.
Great Britain Awaits Developments.
Great Britain today has called halt
In It's navy building program. Some
students of naval matters hold that
Great Britain Ia waiting to determine
definitely whether the new inventions
will do all that Is claimed for them,
and that II II Is found that they will,
the whole nature of naval cOnstruc-
ton In Great Britain will be changed
to meet the new conditions. In other
words, II is said that Great Britain Ii
! holding back In order to avoid great
expenditure of money on types Of ships
which may prove soon to be obsolete,
either as means of defense or of Of
Tense.
An engineer of high standing in New
York Gig told the writer definitely
not long ago that the Navy depart
ment had before II certain plans
which, II given the consideration they
deserved. would stop the building of
subsequent inquiry concerning this
ma liter, and while II did not lead into
the Navy department. 1t led to some
Information which made II seem prob
able that the naval authorities Of the
world are giving consideration to GER
warfare which. II proved worthy.
would change the sea lighting Of the
future.
Something New In Torpedo Boats.
In Washington there Is definite in
formation concerning the development
of "a small. almost submerged tor
pedo boat. capable Of operating in a
fairly rough sea. and possessing great
speed" which is one Of the advances
to be credited to the United States.
The question Is. II this type Of tiny
fighter will render battleships obsO-
lete. or course II cannot make them
obsolete unless the ingenuity of the
defensive Is far behind In the race
with the ingenuity Of the offensive.
Most Of the students Of the situation
seem to have came to the belief that
II great battleships are to 60 by the
board. II will be because aviation has
advanced to q degree that will enable
airships to put battleships speedily
out Of cOmmission-absolute sink
them as the result of a bombardment
from on high.
Presumably It Is commonly thought
that battleships with anti-aircraft guns
cat save themselves from air attacks.
They cannot do anything of the kind.
As has been written time and again,
aviators are not In the least worried
about shrapnel or high explosives
which are fred at them from the
ground or from the decks OF battle
ships. These anti-aircraft guns al
most never hit their mark.
Inauguration to Be Simple.
At the request OF President-elect
Harding all plans for a great dis
play on the occasion Of his inau'
guration on March 4 next have
! been cunceled. There viii be no pa
rsde down Pennsylvania avenue. and
no inaugural ball in the pension build
ing or elsewhere. and no popular car
nival for the entertainment Of visitors