New-York tribune., 1921-08-20
Board Holds
Battleship Is
Still Supreme

The effect Of direct hits was COM
pletely local The most serious effect
of bombs is that mining effect when
such bombs exploded close alongside
and below the surface of the water.
In the case of major ships the min
ing effect of a bomb will be materially
reduced, due to the ability Of the per
sonnel to free the snip Of large quanti-
ties of water by means of pumps, to
distribute the excess water through the
various compartments and to shore no
the watertight doors and bulkhead ;
which are in most serious danger Of
carrying away due to water pressure.
Protection for Personnel Urged
"Aircraft, through the medium of
machine guns and augmentation bombs,
as we'll as by high explosive bombs Of
high capacity, possess sufficient of
exposed personnel of naval vessels
unless such vessels are protected by
pursuit planes. This emphasizes the
necessity for the further protection of
personnel and for the provision of air
craft carriers, on which such pursuit
planes may be based.
"The effect of the gas bomb has not
been determined, but it is believed that
such bombs possess offensive power
which, within the radius Of action of
the aircraft, is to-day a serious threat
to vessels insufficiently protected bv
aircraft"
With reference to the effect of air.
craft on future naval construction the
joint board is Of the opinion that:
"If heavier than air craft are to be
effective in naval warfare they must
have greater mobility and, since their
radius of action is not great, additional
mobility must be obtained by provid-
ing mobile bases-i. e., aircraft car
riers.
$50 far as known, no planes large
enough to carry bomb effective
against major ship have been flown
or landed on an airplane carrier at
sea. 1t is probable, however, that
future development will make such
operations practicable.
"Alrcraft carriers are subject to at
tack by vessels carrying guns, tor
pedoes or bombs, and will require, as
all other types Of vessels require the
eventual support of the battleship.
THE battleship is still the backbone
OF the fleet and the bulwark of the
nations sea defense. and will so re-
main so long as the safe navigation
OF the sea for purposes of trade or
transportation is vital to success in
war.
Battleship Remains Chief Factor
"The airplane, like the submarine,
destroyer and mine, has added to the
dangers to which battleshps are ex-
posed, but has not made the battleship
obsolete. The battleship still remains
the greatest factor Of naval strength.
THE development Of aircraft, instead
OF furnishing an economical instru-
ment of war leading to the abolition of
the battleshp, has but added to the
complexity Of naval warfare
1.-The aviation and ordnance experi-
ments conducted with the ex-German
vessels as targets have proved that it
has become imperative as matter of
national defense to provide for the
maximum possible development of avia
tion in both the army and navy. Thcv
have proved also the necessity for air
craft carriers Of the maximum size and
speed to supply our feet with the
offensive and defensive power which
aircraft provide, within their radius Of
action, as an effective adjunct of the
fleet. 1t Is likewise essential that ef-
fcctive anti aircraft armament be de-
veloped."