South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-08
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

WaTsnlp,
was the most efficient device of the kind perfected
during the war. and adopted by other nations
Better guns for aeroplanes was vital need. Our
ordnance officers vastly improved the machine guns in
anti-submarine warfare needed a large
caber gun with sufficient power penetrate the hull
plating the U-boat and the Davis non-reco gun was
produced. This is radical departure from previous
types the barrel being open both ends and loaded
at the by rotating half of the barrel round
offset axis
The projecte leaves the front barrel in the usual
way, while charge of equal weight projected
from the barrel. Consequently recoH force is
transmitted TO the mount. A Lewis machine gun is
mounted above the Davis gun barrel. that in aim
ing the machine guns bullets fired in approaching
the and the Davis shell speeds forth the
Smoke BOXES BY THOUSAND
Decided improvements made in range-fnding
and fre-conro devices increasing the efficiency of
large and medium calber guns. Smoke boxes We're
manufactured by the thousands and placed aboard
merchant well naval vessels that in of
attack by submarine they could make smOkesCreens of
their own. also many improvements in
wireless biography of the interesting of these
being the radio compass by means Of which the posi-
ton of ships at could be determined. This so
successful that submarines made little Of their
wireless shore fearing disclose their location.
So many devices were developed that il would
pages tell of them all, and though thousands
of suggestions made impracticable not few
Of decided value and the result Of develop
ment a whole fresh proof of the neverfaing in
ventiveness and genius Of Americans.
What became of the Black plan is still mys-
terry Made out by the general board guarded
greatest care. handled by the proper authorities
carried into effect and then it vanished utterly
The discovery that Of secret naval plans was
missing came when 1t late to have any effect
on the situation But that did prevent the news
papers making of the sensation especially
for political had it in for the navy de-
partment.
They would never have heard it was missing. nor
would we have known it missing had we not look
for the of proving to certain clamorous
critics that had not gone TO without plans. Long
ago il had served its purpose a plan, and as we
supposed had been filed away with thousands Of other
documents for purposes of record. But there were
wrong The plan had not been filed away nor could
any Of it be found To this day it has not been
found.
And it was an important plan-at the it was
used. plan OF vital importance.
NAVY'S BLACK PLAN"
The navy for many years has had a set Of plans TO
cover possible situations which might develop in the
Atlantic. Pacific. the Caribbean or other open
waters These plans originated with the general board
OF which Admiral Dewey chairman until his death
in January 1917, and were kept up-to-date by fire.
quent revision.
The plan dealing with possible hostiities in the At
lantic was known as the Black plan In February
1917 in it's revised up-to-the- minute form, it dealt
of course the proba bility of with Germany.
ON Feb the day after BernstOrff dismissed, the
general board recommended in detail the principal
steps TO be taken with the central pow
rehabilitation the fleet naval districts and auxil
larry vessels; large increase in and marine corps
personnel: nets and mines guard ports and home
ers against submarines arming Of merchant ships and
other measures, and most important arrange as soon
possible plans Of cooperation with the naval forces
of the the joint protection Of transatlantic
commerce and for offensive naval operations against
the common enemy
SOLUTION OF PROBLEM"
+ The general plan was comprehensive; specia
recommendations had been made 10 the various
steps we should take But 1 wanted also a definite
statement the strategy and general policy We
should pursue upon the declaration OF These
studies are called problems" and on Feb. 10 ad
dressed this letter the general board:
Feb 10 1917.
4 To. The General Board.
subject: Solution OF Problem
! The department desires the general board 70
consider the following problem and submit its
! solution practicable:
PROBLEM.
I General Solution-Condtons at
cept that war with Germany is declared.
Special Situation-The allies do desire
/ battleship force at present.
n Requred-Naval estimate OF the situation:
4 First. the grand strategy demanded BY the
situation.
/ second. as to the disposition OF the bauleship
( force
Third, as the method OF assisting in main
i tanning communications with Europe. including
/ scheme for cooperation with allies.
Fourth. the methods Of driving submarines
from the
4 Assume-Mobilization Of all naval vessels and
Observation-Disclosures OF all naval vessels and pos
sbility Of mobilizing merchant vessels required.
JOSEPHUS DANIELS.