The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-08
By Associated Press

Wasnfngton February 7-Part1cipatlon by the war department in a series Of experiments to determine the value Of aircraft against major naval vessels was invited by Secretary Daniels today in letter to Secretary Baker.
 The first of the tests will be conducted within the next 90 days MT. Daniels said, and conditions approxinating as closely as possible those of battle will be simulated. The captured German bat tleship Osfriesland of 26.500 tons prob ably will be used for the first experi- ment
 Admiral R. E. Coontz chief of naval operations, prior to the making public Of Secretary Daniels letter had told the IlHcuse naval committee that within the next three months the navy department would bomb a large warship from the air in the open sea in an effort to test the theory advanced by Brigadier Gen eral Mitchell of the army air service that airplanes had made capital naval vessels useless.
 Representative Mondell of Wyoming, republican floor leader. who preceded Admiral Coontz on the stand, warned tne committee that unless expenditures for military establishments were cut down some of the larger nations of the world would be driven into bankruptcy. He characterized the navy departments es- inmates under Secretary Daniel 'as notice to the world from peace loving America, accepted abroad as mandate to, if not an expression of, the will ot the American people,
 SAYS U. s. MUST LEAD The United States should take the lead 1 in disarmament, declared MT. Mondeil, adding:
 If an agreement is not reached Tor the limitation of armament and war like expenditures in the near future, the fault will be that of America as in former days the fault was that Of Ger many 4
 Representative Towner, republican, Iowa, followed MT. Mondell. He also urged disarmament, but advised con- tinuation of the present building pro- gramme and no action by this country except by international agreement. The drastic cut in military expenditures in 1 this country since the end of the war was not equaled anywhere, abroad, he l said, and was evidence to the w orId gpf Americas desire to reduce it's military establishment to the minimum con sistent with safety.
 l Discussing the question of disarma- ment Admiral Coontz declared that dis armament talk had appeared after we
  1 importance and equality and now when realization seems at hand" He l advised against stopping any part Of
 the 1916 building programme so lar as big ships were concerned.
 MUST BE DESTROYED l Secretary Daniels, in making public 1 his letter to Secretary Baker, pointed 1 out that by allied agreement the United States was obligated to destroy Os- 1 friesland and other German navel yes | sels given this country as soon as eX- :, periments now under way were con cluded He could think of no more fit
 ting or useful method of destroying l them, he said, than by using them as l test ships for aviation bombing expe-
 riments. He intimated that the old l battleship Iowa. already fitted with I radio control apparatus, would be used I for a similar purpose later. ] The Osfriesland was one of the more l modern battleships of the former Kali
 ser's navy, mounting 12-inch guns. The vessel is fitted with very thorough system of bulkheads and watertight l compartments and shoulds in the opin- ion of naval officers, provide a very 1 good demonstration of what damage l might be expected from aerial bombs exploding on modern major. shlp of 1 war. Before he received Mir. Daniels | letter, Secretary Baker, replying tC | questions as to his views on Brigadier General Mitchelrs statements before congressional committee, said that any discussion between the army and navy
 regarding the importance of aircraft
 would be marked by harmonious co operation. as long as he remained sec
 retary of war.
 l The House naval committee will meet
 in executive session tomorrow to dis cuss authorizing the immediate con
 struction of two huge airplane car
 riers for the navy. At the same time
 Senate naval committee will be hearing
 the views of the navy general board or the resolution to suspend naval con. q struction for six months to give experts
 q chance to study thes lessons of tht ! World war.
 |I Admiral Coontz and Rear Admira
 D. w. Taylor, chief constructor of tht
 navy, both urged the House committed
 today to authorize the airplanc carriers
 The latter estimated that the vessels
 would cost from $21.000,000 to S2S,000, 900 each, depending on size and woult take 30 months to build.
 Admiral Coontz said the ship' should be capable of 32 to 35 knots al hour speed and should house 80 planes
 One should be stationed in each ocean
 he declared.
 Negro Fatally Injured