Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-17
NEW WARCRAFT
REACHES LIMIT
TO RUN CANAL
u. S. Monsters Have Beam
Only 5 Feet Less Than
Width of Locks.
MAY CHECK BUILDING

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Whether the
engineers who designed the Panama Ca
nal committed a colossal blunder which
may one day put the American Navy at
the mercy Of Japan, or whether. in their
superior wisdom, they haved billions to
this and future generations by placing
an automatic check upon the size Of war
ships, is the question which Is exciting
keenest interest among naval experts here
at present.
This dispute Is an outgrowth Of the
recent announcement Of the dimensions
Cf the twelve monster warships now
~building for the American Navy, and
opinion appears to be about evenly d.
vided.
The locks OF the Panama Canal are
1000 feet long, forty feet deep and no
feet wide.
The new battle cruisers Of the Constel-
Iation' type are STA feet long, 81 feet
draft and 1O1 feet SA inches vida
The new battleships Of the North Caro-
line class are ga feet long, 80 feet draft
and IO5 feet wide.
The Constellation might be 12o feet
longer and still be able to get through
the canal, but If she were four feet
wider she would have to steam 1900
miles around Cape Horn in order to pass
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
CANALS LIMIT
Is REACHED.
Rear Admiral D. T. Taylor. regarded
by many as the foremost naval construc-
ter Of the world, says the North CaroIina
and the other ships Of her class will pass
through the canal, even though there viii
be only two and a half feet Of water on
either side of her when she does IL.
Naval experts agree. however, that the
limit Of beam has been reached In the
North Carolina, and that IL ships are to
pass through the Canal locks-4s they
now stand they must not exceed the 1o5-
foot breadth carried by the North Car
DINA.
Because Of the great length Of coast
line, il is highly essential from a stra-
tegic point Of view that American war
ships be able to pass quickly from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. II this should
become impossible, experts say, the
strength Of the navy would need to be
virtually doubled IN order to afford am
pie protection to both the East and West
coasts.
Japan is reported to be planning war
ships which compare favorably in size,
speed and armament with the best OF the
American feet. Great Britain has not
yet decided upon a new building pro-
gram. but recent press dispatches from
~I.ondon indicate a strong feeling there
that the British Navy should equal that
Of the United States and Japan combined.
While other nations may deem It de-
sirable that their warships be able to
negotiate the Panama Canal. IL is pointed
out that only the United States has
really compelling reasons for designing
vessels with that end IN view.
MAY BE CHECK
ON BUILDING.
Considerations OF economy would urge
the United States to stick to her policy
OF constructing only ships that can pass
from the Atlantic to the Pacific without
the necessity Of a 12OO0-mile detour
round the Horn. II sks does that some !
naval men are asking what is to prevent
other powers from building warships Of
sufficient size. armor and armament TO
outelass our fighting craft7
On the other hand. there are those who
profess to believe the limitations imposed
by the canal will operate to check the
warlike ambitions Of all nations. Compe-
titiOn IN naval construction has been ter
rife In the last twenty years. The Ore
gon, regarded as d miraculous achieve
ment when she was launched, was super
seeded by bigger and more powerful YES
sells. until now we have the Constellation,
nearly four times the size OF prize craft
Of Spanish-American war days.
This destructive competition In ship
building, which is impOverishing many Of
yshe nations, viii go on, some officers be-
neve, unless some check is inteposed
from the outside.
In the capacity OF the Panama Canal
they profess to see such a cehck, and
they believe the nations will welcome It.
It would be possible, Of course, to
widen the Canal locks, but only at a
tremendous expense OF time, labor and
money.