The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-20
BATTLESH|P STILL BACKBONE OF FLEET. PERSH|NG DECLARES
AirpIane Adds to Dangers to Which Vessels Exposed,
 But Has Not Made the ia BattIeship Obsolete
By Associated Press

Washington, August 19.-Results of bombing tests held off the Vir- ginia Capes from June 21rto July 21 have failed to displace the bat tleship from its pre-eminent posi- tion as the nations chief defense at sea.
 This was the outstanding con clusion of the report of the joint board of the army and navy, made public today by General Pershing. the senior member, and approved by Sec retary Weeks and Acting Secretary Roosevelt.
 The tests which resulted In the sinking of four ex-German warships by aerial bombs prove. however. the board added, that it has become i'm. perative as matter of national de- fense to provide for the maximum possible development of aviation in both the army and navy
 The tests proved also. the board agreed, the necessity for aircraft carriers of maximum size and speed as an effective adjunct of the fleet and for the development of the anti aircraft armament"
 . Instead of furnishing an econom- tcal instrument of war leading to the abolition of the battleship, the de- velopment of aircraft has added to ha .v,y nf ra ruo the report stated.
 The tests which were conducted by the navy with the co-operation of the army air service were reported on separately by army and naval boards O.. observers. and these reports formed the basis of the statement issued today.
 The joint board included Admiral R. E. Coontz, chief of staff; Rear Admiral S. $. Williams. naval opera tions; Brig. Gen. Henry Jervey, gem eral staff, and Capt. W. c. Cole. naval operations.
 Use at Sea Limited The board found that military air raft when used beyond the radius Of action of shore bases. possessed limited assistance to gunnery in the rQOITOiA OI. ellI0 OH tHt iifAitCu dosfo- tance in the service of information and security and it's apparent strategical qualities in operations of coast defense" but might prove a decisive factor in coastal operations is used in adequate numbers.
 If heavier -than-air craft are to be effective in naval warfare" the report said, they have great mobii- ;ity and since their radius of, action Is not great, additional mobility must be obtained by providing mobile bases, l. e., aircraft carriers.
 50 far as known no planes large enough to carry a bomb effective . major ship have been flown from ol landed on an airplane carrier at sea It is probable. however, that future .velopments will make such oper- ations practicable"
 Tn the present state of anti air craft defense. the report continued, | is believed that if an air force car obtain the mastery of the air, an eff fective percentage of hits can be ob tained against surface vessels com, ing within the radius of action O. bombing planes without an undue percentage of loss of aircraft.
 In Early Stage
 Anti aircraft armament is in ar carly stage of development. The his tory of war indicates that mean' of defense develops rapidly to mee the development of offensive weap ons. The effectiveness of the boml carried by aircraft emphasis the ne ccssity for the rapid development o anti-aircraft armament end for th' provision of pursuit planes as a par of the fleet.
 Aircraft carrying high capacity high explosive bombs of sufficien size have adequate offensive power to sink or seriously damage any naval vessel at present constructes proyided such projectiles can b' nlaced in the water close alongsid' inc vessel. Furthermore, 1t will D difficult if not impossible to buiI' env tyne of vessel of sufficien strenrth to withstand the destructive force that can be obtained With th' largest bombs that airpianes may n' able to carry from shore pases ol sheltered harbors.
 The bombing tests were nor con ducted under battle conditions was emphasized and therefore th' pArccntage of hits was greatly ' excess of that to be fxpected Tn az tual battle. Airplahes wouio o greatly handicapped. the board saio in the case of a target moving q high speed on varying courses an' protected by anti-aircraft armament but lon the other hand the prooapii ity of hitting will be increased '; more efficient sighting and pom dropping apparatus by further tram ing and .deyelopment in aerial tac