Evening journal., 1921-08-02
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1921
MscnIEvous pREss REPORrs OT NAvY TEsTs.

MSCHIEVOUS PRESS REPORTS OF NAVY IESiS
MT is unfortunate that many reports descriptive
OF the sinking OF the Ostfresland create the impress
sion that the incident was a contest between air and
water forces eliminating in triumph for the former
It was nothing of the SORT and explicitly stated
BY the Government before the tests.
The experiments were in line with the development on
new feature Of our national defense.
They showed the accomplishments and revealed the
shortcomings Of aerial bomb attacks. and, likewise, they
suggested better OF meeting such attacks when de-
hyered by enemy air force.
All intelligent Delawareans realize that 10 get full value
from the tests they be considered in their relation
to entire system OF national defense auxiliary OF
which air forces and another our fleet with Its
battleshiDs.
Those reporters and editors unwittinsly strike blow
at their countys military strength who seek to create
e impression that air forces succeeded in sinking
a dreadnaught. Nothing of the sort has occurred.
The conditions OF the test would have been duplicated
had hollow armored hull covered with three-lnch
protective deck and with lighter deck above been pre-
sented as a target to the airmm.
The guns and engines Of the ostfriesand were mere
ornaments that gave her the appearance OF batteshp
But she could neither the shots directed against
her turn from their direction.
Suppose the attack had been directed against one Of
batteships equipped with powerful anti-air
tcipated, TO send up a swift pursuit plane.
The probabilities are that not single bomh woul
have landed her decks but the contrary the at
tackng would have been dsspated and several
its members shot to the water
It is safe to say that the present development OF
attack at least neutrazed by the present methods
combating 1t, that batteshps or other craft are
more danger from that than they ever hav
been.
What viii be the future development OF bomb droppins
remains to be Improved sights, fuses and methods
OF launching bombs will doubtless come. along witt
armor piercing varieties Of those missiles.
But at the time the Navy will have airplane car
rers added 10 its fleet; quite likely each batteshp vii
have pursuit plane added to It's permanent equipment
the fire OF anti-arcraft guns win improve in accuracy
and special shells will be devised for explosion high
air. Thus air attack and defense win substantially bal
each other
We have seen the same sort Of rivalry before.
The automobile torpedo was 10 drive the batteshi
from the seas, but its almost met by neN
types OF hun construction special maneuverng tactics
the face OF torpedo attacks, etc.
The submarine the next weapon to decree the door
Of an surface craft but special listening devices dete,
the approach Of the "sub" long distance,
serng tactics eyade It, and depth bombs destroy it,
The dreadnaught has survived and is Just as much Il
backbone Of the fleet as she ever was
It win be sad day for our national defenses II the CT
Of the air enthusiasts that air bombs have sealed u
doom OF the battleship' be needed
For hundreds Of years the ship OF the line has been u
substance about which the OF the has been bu
During all that time there has been constant deveo
ment in naval warfare but the batteship has remaln
Supreme
The attack by air is but incident Of that evolution,
fact that must be recognized II our defense programs
the future are not TO be woefully deficient