The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-18
.BATTLEsH|PS WON THE WORLD
WAR, DECLARES VON T|RP|TZ

Saint Blaslen. Baden. Feb. l6-CBy
The Associated Press) - Battleships
won the World war. and will win future
wars. in the opinion OF Admiral Won Tlr-
pitt. at one time head Of the German
fleet and minister OF the navy during
the critical period OF history Of the
struggle. In an interview here today ne
declared that owing 10 the pecuiari-
ties of the war the submarine h0u pech
given greater Importance than was
warranted by the facts.
England. Japan and the United States
recognized the fact. he said. that IN inc
world struggle for supremacy OUTSIDE OF
Europe land forces would he secondary
He asserted such 4 struggle must necrS-
sar!!y De one OF sea supremacy, but ADJ
cd that the sort OF maritime forces 10
be constructed. in the light OF the cN-
periences OF the latest war. was a great
open question.
There was no decisive action between
opposing fleets during the World war
ne. said. because. in miSconCe'H!nc the
political situation and poorly assessing
the inherent power OF tn" German f.eet.
the Berlin government did not RISK II
during the decisive first years or the
conflict. when the faVnrabIr time for
naval action was past. England mad 70
suffer directly only from German Suo-
marines Against them she had no pre-
paratton.
I'm reality. the war, so far as the sea
was concerned, was won by the EnE!!Sh
high fleet. and the verdict could nave
been reversed only through oattIeSh!ps'
Sub Development Harnpersd.
while submarine engines had become
somewhat stronger, and the boats some
what more enduring" SAID the admiral.
The Germans. N the main, carried on
their submarine campaign Tor years
with virtually the same craft they per.
fectCd IN 1918. Further development OF
the submarine vii. be much hampered
until an efficient and uniform motor
can be developed for travelling above ana
below the surface. After th!S IS soLEed
there will be question whether Ees-
sol fitted for underwater travelling can.
in the long, compete in general perform
ance with q surface vessel"
The necessity for greater protection
Of submarines against torpedoes and the
supsriority OF artillery fire through the
air as contraStcd with attacks under
water was discussed by the admiral. who
added: III the artillery proJectlIe MAIN
tains rs superiority among naval arms
IN spite OF the torpedo, one cannot see
why battleships and smaller veSselS
should become obsolete all at once.
Batssships More Important
The construction and numerical pro-
norton OF the submarine arm Of the
service" he continued, will change Win
technical progress. but At present there
IS no reason whatever 10 CONSIDER ine
battleshtp out of date ps concentration
OF water power. The submarine has
merely added to the older naval forces
and will be found in all navies in great
er'numbers. In the same way. counter
devices invented during the war Will be
reflected but changes will be more grad
nal than the fanatical protagoniSts or
the submarine expect
81 There are fools IN my country who
reproaCh me with not having punt nun
. Treds Of submarines at the outbreak OF
the war at the expense Of hattleship
construction. These people forget that
although Robert Fulton built L suoma-
r;ne more than 100 years ago and see
great hopes upon It as weapon Tor
lighting England, technical progress had
not gone so far as TO provide any et-
fsctive loug-range boat at the opening
of the conflict. OF long-range boats,
which alone mattercd. and which VIII
r,a,,nr even more IN the future, Ger
many owned. as regards quantity and
Quality more than the other navieS OF
the world combined