New-York tribune., 1921-02-20

significant force of 10000 Germans
nearly won the war by starving Eng
land.
"a. 1t is no argum ent to say that the
submarine was finally defeated, when
we consider the odds against it. Ger
France. England lay across her front
door. There was but two exits for her
submarines to reach the Atlantic
About 5000 snti-submarine craft were
employed daily against, the thirty sub
marines at sea. No such condition OF
disadvantage will embarrass our future
enemy, whose submarines may be free
to roam the sea. And we may not have
the navies of the civilized world alliet
with our own. Can we alone place
5000 anti-submarine craft upon the
sea and strew depth charges over every
ocean? viii we have 100000 men
with a navy equal to the combined
nayies of England, France, Italy and
Japan? If not, the task of downing
the submarine of our future enemy
will be much more difficult than was
that of subduing the German submar-
inc in the World War.
at is positively amazing chat many
naval officers have already forgotten,
realized hesitatingly the Importance of
aviation, the Navy Department. and
Congress as well, have suggested that
we cancel the contract for submarines
in order to get money for aviation.
This is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Can
not two ideas co-eXlst in d naval mind
We must 'have a strong submarine
force, and a strong air force, too. With
out both of these forces our surface
fleet will be helpless. The submarine
single-handed nearly won the greatest
of all wars. 1t has proved it's prowess
and yet the United States practically
ignores it."
Dealing with conditions of this coun-
try's submarine force and it's naval air
force. Admiral Fullam said:
The Following is the condition of
our submarine force:
81. There are about thirty boats from
800 to $50 tons, all unsuitable for off,
shore work. They are fiji only for train
ing.
"2. There are about fifty coastal boats
from $50 to $50 tons now in fair cond-
tion, but not intended for distant serv-
ice.
3. There are about fifty boats of 800
tons and above, some uncompleted. A
few of these may be efficient, but as a
class they are failures.
Fail to Develop Boats
ut appears, therefore, that in three
years following the armistice the Navy
Department has failed to develop any
long-range boats such as the Germans
sent to our coast in 1918. We have
spent approximately $130,000,0OO on
submarines, and the navy has not one
submarine to-day fit for service with
the fleet
"ln this the Navy Department ignores
the past, neglects the present and fails
utterly to anticipate the future.
1T is estimated that not less than
Sl00,0O0,000 more is needed to-day to
supply this country with an adequate
submarine force. This is the price OF
three dread noughts. In view of the
1act that we have prospectively %
dreadnoughts III our surface fleet. shall
we add still further to the battleship
force before we supply ourselves with
submarines? 1t is matter Of common
sense. How will the money be most
wisely spent? Shall we put so much
money into the craft that did not con
trol the sea- in the World War that we
shall have no money to provide us with
the weapon that fought single handed
and nearly won against the combine
navies Of the world?
SO much for the force that operates
, on the lower plane of modern three.
plane navy 1t remains to consider the
lorce that operates on the upper plane
Air Force inadequate
AT present the United States naval
air force is pitifully inadequate to
meet modern conditions. What we
have is good, and the personnel is Ell
clent and brave, but the force is so
small that a hostile fleet supplied with
adequate air forces could completely
command the air above our surface
fleet and subject it to constant bomb.
ing from above and constant attack
from torpedo planes from above and
below Nothing will justify our leav-
ing our surface fleet to such fate.
1T IS estimated tnat net less than
, @l20,OO0,O0O will be necessary to pro-
VIDE two modern airplane carriers, to-
sether with the bombing and torpedo
planes TO place cur naval air force in
condition to operate effectively with
t the fleet in modern war. This is the
! approximate price of four dread
nougnts. Without an air force our sur
lace fleet, no matter how powerful, can
, not exist and operate effectively if the
enemy commands the air. As in the
case of submarines, shall we continue
/ to build dreadnoughts before we have
provided the air weapons that are es-
sentlal for both offensive and defensive
naval warfare? 1t is once more aues-
rlon OF the most economical investment
or our money. If we have powerful
surface fleet with no air or submarine
fleets, money spent upon our navy will
be wasted. 1t will be a weak navy in
every sense of the word
I'm this connection it is important
to note that England. France and japan
are strenuously seeking the fullest pos
slble development of air forces. These
nations see the handwriting on the wall
They realize that air power is nee
essary adjunct of sea power. Indeed
we may assert that sea power hereafter
can only exist with the aid or air power
The fleet, or the ship, which loses the
control of the air above itself cannot
control the sea"
The German submarine feet brought
England to 'the verge of starvation,' y
Admiral Fuliam said. He emphasized
this repeatedly
Many interesting phases of the World
War, the battle of Jutland, the Gallip-
oh campaign and the transport of
troops were discussed by Admiral Full
lam. In concluding, he declared:
"Sophistry alone can defend the pres
ent condition of our feet
In urging that the feet be united in
the Pacific, he declared it was not
needed in the Atlantic, and said few
bombs might block the Panama Canal
He said it was folly" to say the bases
IN the Pacific were inadequate to main