Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-07-22
A|RP[ANE { SINKS
AR|M0RED SHIP
IN 25 MINUTES
Aviators Contend This
Is Proof That Battle
Ships Are Obsolete.
Ostfnesland Weighed
$4,000 Tons; Took
Part in Jutland Battle.

On Board the Destroyer Leary, er
route to Norfolk, Va. July 21.-Tht
ability of the airplane to destroy thu
battleship was demonstrated Thursday
off the Virginia capes
Army bombers sank the former Ger.
man battleship Ostfriesland, $4,000
ton heavily armored ship, in exactly
25 minutes after they opened their at
tack at 12:l5 p. H.. from an altitude
of approximately 1,700 feet. Two
bombs which landed within few yards
of the port quarter gave the ship her
death blows
Seven oneton projectiles were drop
ped by as many army planes which
came from Langley field, Va, so miles
away, but Immediately after the two
had exploded near the port quarter,
the Ostfriesland began to settle by the
stern. These bombs were launched by
separate planes within q minute of
each other and within five minutes the
ships quarter deck was slightly awash
and she began to list to port.
Compartments Quickly Flooded.
AS the water rushing through rents
torn in the hull by the 1900 pounds of
7. n. L. which the bombs carried,
flooded compartment after compart-
ment, the big hulk went over gradually
until she had turned bottom up. As
she started the final plunge, the bow
rose high out of the sea to disappear
slowly.
Thus the end came to q once great
ship of the German navy which took
a prominent part in the battle of Jut-
land. Naval men and many others of
the thousands assembled on half q
score of craft viewed the end of the
big ship almost in awe, but the army
men, and particularly the aviators,
were highly elated. Many of them re-
garded this as proof Of the claim
that the airship was making the battle
ship obsolete.
With the sinking of the Ostfriesland,
the airmen during the months joint
tests off the coast have sent
down by means of bombs. virtually
every type of fighting ship-a sub
In addition. navy airmen
ship Iowa while that craft was seeking
to approach the coast from sea under
radio control.
DENLY issues Statement.
Soon after the Ostfriesland disap-
oeared. Secretary DENLY, who, with
Admiral koontz. chief of naval opera
ions, and others. had viewed the bomb
ngs from the naval transport Hender-
son. issued the following statement:
THE plunge of the Ostfriesand
when she sank after the terrific pound
ng of the last few days. ended one of
he most remarkable and interesting
series of experiments ever conducted.
They have been practically perfect in
coordination between the two serv-
ces, and have been characterized
throughout by fine spirit of comrade
hip. Scientific conclusions of the ut
most value undoubtedly will result from
he series. One outstanding and most
dmirable feature has been the splen-
lid courage and skill of the airmen
congratulate them with all my heart"
Says Battleship Not Doomed.
Major General Charles F. Menoher.
hief of the army air service, declared
e did not think the sinking of the |
)stfriesland showed that the battle |
hip was doomed. but that it did show
hat the aerial bomb constituted real
aenace to capital ships which must
e met.
"a fact demonstrated is that the !
attleship can be sunk by the aerial
omb. The only thing to be done is
, view that as a cold material fact |
nd attack the problem accordingly"
Naval officers and most of the mem
ers of congress present were under
TODD to have taken the same view.