Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-08
NAVY URGES ARMY
TO TEST PROWESS
OF PLANE OVER SHIP
First of Tests Will Be Con-
Quoted Within Next
Ninety Days.
GERMAN WAR VESSEL
WILL BE BOMB VICTIM
Baker Says, Harmonious Co.
Operation" Will Be Basis
of Experiment.
lny Asseclatea Prs.


WASiINGTON. Feb. 7.-Part!cipa :
ton by the War Department, in a
series Of experiments to determine
the value of aircraf, against major
naval vessels was invited by Sccre-
iary Daniels today in a letter To
Secretary Baker.
The nrst OF the tests will bc con-
Quoted within the next ninety days.
Mr.. Daniels said. and conditions ap-
proXima,inE as closely a. possible
those oc battle .'nl he simulated
The captured German battlcship
Osfriesiand. OF eG.boo tons. probably
VIII be used for the first experiment
Admiral Il. =: Coontz, chief|of naval
operations. prior TO the making pub
lie Of Secretary Daniels letter. had
told the House Naval Committee that
within the next three months the
Navy Department would bomb a large
warship from the air in the open sea
in an effort 10 test the theory ad-
vanced by Brigadier- Genera! Mitchell.
Of the army air service. that air
planes had made capital naval YES
sells useless.
Representative Mondell of Wyom-
ing, Republican floor leader. who
preceded Admiral Coon,z on the
stand, warned the committee that un-
less expenditures for military estab-
l!shments were cut down some OF the
larger nations OF the world would
be driven into bankruptcy. He char
acterized the Navy Departments
estimates under Secretary Daniels as
"a notice TO The world from peace
loving America, accepted abroad as n
mandate to. IL not an expression of.
the Will Of the American people"
Fears Charge OF Militarism.
The United States should take the
lead in disarmament declared M-.
Mondeii. adding:
IF an agreement; is not reached
warl!ke expenditures in the near
America, as in former days the fault
US that OF Germany"
Representative Towner. Republican.
Iowa. followed Mr.. Mondcll. He also
urged disarmament, but advised con
tinuation of the present building pro-
gram, and no action by this country
except by international agreement.
The drastic cut in military expcndi-
lures in this country since the end
of the war was not cqualed any
where abroad, he said. and was evil
dence to the world OF Americas de-
sire to reduce it's military establish
ment to the minimum consistent with
safety.
Discussing the question OF disarma
ment. Admiral Coontz declared that
disarmament talk had appeared after
we have waited all our lives for
navy Of Importance and equality"
and nov when realization seems ut
hand" he advised against stopping
any part Of the 1916 building pro-
gram so far as big ships were con-
cerncd.
Secretary Daniels. in making pub
lie his letter to Secretary Baker.
pointed OUT that by allied agreement
the United states was obliged to des-
troy the Osfriesland and other form
cr German naval vessels given this
country as soon as experiments now
under way were concluded. lie could
think OF no more fitting or useful
method of DESTROYING them. he said.
than by using them as test ships for
aviation bombing experiments. lie
animated that the old battleship
Iowa, already fitted with radio con-
troll apparatus. would be used for a
similar purpose later.
Tho osfrieslanSswas ono of tho
IContinued dn Third Pape1