The Washington times., 1921-07-03
NAVY SKEPT|CAL
Of PLANES WORTH
IN WARSH|P FIGHT
Officers Declare Aerial Armor-
Piercing Bomb Not
Here As Yet.
BY DAVID NJ. CHURCH.
International News Service.

No matter what the outcome of
aerial bombing operations against
naval vessels now under way. these
tests will never convince the officers
of the Atlantic fleet that the battie-
ship and fighting vessel Is to be dis.
placed by air forces.
Although many OF the officers ad-
NIT that they have been forced to
recognize that the aerial fighters
have acquired an admirable amount
of skill, still they refuse TO agree
that air forces are yet a serious mem
ace to fghting sea ships
The first argument that every naval
officers gives TO the claim of the aerial
proponents Is that naval warfare has
been the result Of years of progress,
and In all OF these years there has
been but one weapon which has been
discarded and that Is the ram. It is
pointed out that for every advance in
methods of attacks upon naval craft
there has been DEVELOPED new de-
fense.
Warfare is but q cycle of develop
mont. the Atlantic feet officers point
out When the cycle is completed war
fare becomes only a test of strength.
and they believe that In the finai
analysis, no matter how great the
QGveiCpment OF tne derOpfdncs IL Will
be but test of strength.
Getting down to specific argument
against the aeroplane and it's bomb
ing attacks, the officers of the feet
point out that thus far II has not
been proven that there is any sue
cessfui armor-piercing aerial bomb.
Until this comes the "battle-wagon"
is safe. they say. for when battle-
ship goes into action. ner vulnerable
parts are under protection of q heavy
coat of armor. Even though her SUI
perstructure and her deck defences
may be completely blown away she
will remain a fighting craft. unless
her armour is penetrated and the
vitals OF the vessel destroyed.
During the war the men of the
navy had no fears OF aircraft,s they
say. They declare that the British
naval forces bottled up, lay at anchor
during the greater part of the war
within easy striking distance of Ger
man aerial bases, yet there is no rec
ord of any successful or extensive air
attack upon the grand fleet. Have
the developments In areial warfare
come 50 quick and fast during the
last three years that the aerial
proponents are able to substantiate
tneT Claims tnat the DAttlesnip B
now obsolete7 the officers of the fleet
inquire.
Turning directly to the bombing
tests which are now In progress, the
feet officers state that II will be Inn
possible to Judge conclusively what
the strength OF the air raiders Is, for
there has been no defense. There
have been no attacking air parties
and there has been no anti-aircraft
defense. 1t is impossible, they say.
to estimate the ability of the defenses
Of the fleet until 1t has been actually
demonstrated.
The officers of the navy are will
ing TO agree that aircraft is of great
swalue to them. They use naval air.
craft in their target practise con-
tinually. TheA feel that there should
be generous appropriations for air
craft as a major defense, but they re-
fuse to consider seriously any pro-
,posals that naval developments be
withheld while the nation spends it's
money for aircraft development
The men OF the fleet feel that those