The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-10-01
DENLY Advocates Submarines.

Secretary DENNY has come out in
strong plea for three classes of
seagoing submarines-mine layers,
cruisers and feet submarines. This
is the first evidence that the Navy
Department is beginning to recover
from condition of lethargy in its
naval policy. For the past year it
has ignored modern weapons. Ii
now gives hope that it may look
ahead and not astern. Better late
than never!
1t is pity that the Navy Depart
nent did not wake up last fall, and
again in February, when the naval
bin was presented to Congress. But
IL. was blinded by an obstinate con-
servatism. 1t had but one lonely
idea in its head--the 1916 pro.
Eramme.
1t is futile for apologists to main
tain that the Department and the
General Board advocated subma-
rines and air forces at that time
that they were not shackled by con-
seryatism. The truth is that their
plea for submarines and air forces
was voiced in faint, consumptive
whisper, while they shouted for an
other billion dollars of battleships
with megaphone. Naturally the
megaphone drowned the whisper. AS
a result submarines, airplanes and
airplane carriers were completely
bombed off the naval bill.
Officers who were not on duty at
the Navy Department vainly pleaded
with Congress for modern weapons.
But. amazing to relate, the Chief of
Naval Operations himself recon-
mended that the building of six large
cruising submarines be stopped to
get money for aviation. Congress
cut out the submarines and then
failed to supply an air force. AS a
result our feet is helpless in modern
war and will remain so for at least
four years despite every possible
effort.
The Navy Department and the
Senate Naval Committee were told
that long range submarines were
vitality necessary. Admiral voy
SHEER had declared that they were
far more efficient as scouts and COM
merce destroyers than any other class
OF ships. They are the only ships
that can dare to cross the sea alone
to attack or spy upon an enemy.
They can cruise $4,000 miles, remain
at sea four months and approach
hostile coast with impunity. And
yet the officials at the Navy Depart
ment cut them out. Plainly there
would be no hope for the navy If
such counsel prevailed.
Confirming all this, naval officer
writing over the nom de plume of
"Nautilus" makes the following
statement: Total submarines ef-
fective in the Pacific in future war
Cat any considerable distance from
the COAST. United States, six; Japan,
sixty-six; odds, eleven to one"
This officer knows what he is talk
ing about. But no officer who knew
anything about submarines and the
need of them had been permitted to
appear before the Naval Committee.
The Navy Department practically
forbade it.
Submarines not only are needed
to lay mines, to cruise across seas
and to accompany the feet in battle,
but they can carry dismantled air
planes for emergency use. We may
be sure that our next enemy will
have them. They would be useful
10 him in bombing the Panama
Canal. No doubt he is prepared TO
do this. 1t would be his first move
--or should be IL he had sense.
Verify, Secretary DENNY has not
acted too soon. There is need of
an awakening at the Navy Depart
, ment. A little new blood might help.
Strong. far seeing, able officers versed
In modern naval warfare should be