New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-01-28
SOMETHING NEW
IN SEA WARFARE
MYSTERIOUS DEVELOPMENT OR
INVENTION is TALKED OF
AMONG NATIONS.
SUBMARINE OR AIRPLANES7
Discoveries, Il Is Rumored, Will Make
the Battleship obsoIete-Our Navy
Department Seemingly Is Giving
Matter Little Attention.
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.
Observation-Disclosures are mysteri-
Gus hints that important discoveries
have been made in naval warfare.
Whether these discoveries are inven-
tions or advances In naval science re-
sulting from observation of operations
during the late war, is not disclosed"
The quotation comprises the first
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 We're coming in naval opera
lions, and that the nation which should
cling 10 present-day methods, and
Keep its eyes closed to developments,
would find Itself speedily out Of any
conflict which might come.
There was something even more
definite than III concerning this
matter. 1t was said specifically that
the Navy department of the United
States had been given the details OF
an invention which would make the
~b8ttleshlp obsolete, and that while
the department apparently was not
paying much attention to the informa-
ton which had been put before II, the
navy offices of other countries had
been investigating, inventing and ex-
perimenting along lines parallel to
those which 1t vas suggested the Unit
cd States should follow.
No one knows, of course, definitely
just what form of thing IL Is with
which investigation. invention and ex-
pertinent are concerning themselves.
There are two contrary stories. One
is 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
the other is that airplane improve
ments have come about so rapidly
that ~battleshlps will be unable TO
make any adequate resistance to at
tacks from above.
Great Britain Awaits Developments.
Great Britain today has called IA halt
In its navy building program. Some
students of naval matters hold that
Great Britain is 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 is
holding back in order TO avoid n 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 city told the writer definitely
not long ago that the Navy depart
ment had before II certain plans
which, If given the consideration they
deserved, would stop the building of
all great battleships. ! made some
subsequent Inquiry concerning this
matter, and while IL did not lead into
the Navy department, II led to some
Information which made II seem prob
able that the naval authorities of the
world are giving consideration 10 GER
tain newly proposed methods of sea
warfare which, If proved worthy,
would change the sea fighting of the
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
which is one Of the advances
10 be credited to the United States.
The question is. If this type Of tiny
will render battleships obso-
Iete. OF course 1t cannot make them
obsolete unless the ingenuity Of the
defensive il far behind In the race
with the ingenuity Of the offensive.
Most of the students Of the situation
seem Il have came TO the belief that
4 great b~attleships are to go by the
board. IL will be because aviation has
advanced TO a degree that will enable
20 put battleshlps speedily
)ut Of commisslon-absolutely sink
hem as the result of a bombardment
rom on high.
Presumably Il Is commonly thought
hat batteships with anti-aircraft guns
an save themselves from air attacks.
they cannot do anything Of the kind.
As has been written time and again.
lviators are not In the least worried
bout shrapnel or high explosives
are fired at them from the
round or from the decks Of battle
These anti-aircraft guns al
never hit their mark.
Inauguration to Be Simple.
At the request Of President-elect
Harding all plans for a great dis
LAY on the occasion Of his inau-
on March 4 next have
'een Cancelled. There will be no pa
Bde down Pennsylvania avenue, and
Inaugural ball In the pension bufld-
ne or elsewhere. and no popular a
Iival for the entertainment Of visitors
Who could not gain entrance to any