The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-07-20
Big DREADNAUGHT
|PITTED AGAINST
AVIATORS' BOMBS
GERMAN OSTRIESLAND OF 22,SO0
TONS TO TEST CLAIM THAT
AIRPLANE MAKES NAVY
OBSOLETE

On Board U. s S. Henderson, off
the Virginia Capes, July 20-The air
plane and the capital warship met
here today for the first time. Army,
navy and marine corps aviators, using
bombs ranging in size from 250 to
1000 pounds we're prepared to carry
out series of attacks on the former
! German battleship Ostriesland, a
heavily armored craft, corresponding
to the dreadnaught Florida of the
American navy Although battle con-
ditions could not be simulated as the
| Ostriesland wa unnamed and at
anchor. the result Of the tests was ex-
pected TO have important bearing on
the controversy tarted by Brig. Gen.
william Mitchell, assistant chief OF
the army air service with his dec
laration, before a congressional COM
mittee that the airplane was making
the capital ship obsolete.
Many naval officers here TO observe
the attacks predicted that the Ost-
riesand would be able 10 Withstand
any punishment the bombers could
give. On the other hand, army Of
ficers believed that the airmen would
score q victory. They said that even
if the craft is not actually sunk, the
airplanes probably would infhct Sc
much damage that the ship would be
out Of the running.
No living creature was aboard the
Ostriesland and consequently there
was no way OF determining the prob
able effect Of the explosion on crew
The army officers were certain
however, that hits with several Of the
larger bombs TO be employed would
put practically the entire ships ere"
out OF action through shell shocF
Some members OF congress observing
the attacks also were known to en-
tertain the same opinion. The at
tacks today were divided into three
separate phases In the first, more
than a dozen army, navy and marine
corps planes were ready to drop thre'
score bombs. weighing $50 and SO'
,, pounds each. In the second phase
army land planes and navy seaplane:
were 10 launch score Of $40 an(
GOO pound bombs, while in the thirt
attack, navy and army Martin bomb
, ers were to launch le bombs weighing
1000 pounds each.
3 Should the bombers fail to put th'
|, ostriesland down today the plan
E call for q continuation Of the attaci
- tomorrow, with 1000 and 1000 poun'
9 bombs. T. the ship then Is afloat
Q the superintendent Pennsylvania
: flagship OF the Atlantic fleet, Will g
into action against her, using tn
main battery Of twelve l4-inch guns
I The ostriesland lie 4j6 feet long, 81
a feet broad and has q displacement
d OF 29.SO0 tons. She was one OF III
most heavily armored craft In IN
e once.Gcrman navy and carries l2-incl
= rifles In turrets. She also has decl
y armor five inches thick, designe'
$ particularly, It was said, for protec
i ton against air attacks.
n Washington. July eO.-owing to tn
removal OF some OF her armor. struc
D. ture and fitting FOR other test pur
'r poses the former German battleshil
5 osuricsland. as the target today o
n aircraft off the Virginia capes doc
not present the same resistance TO
:, bombing attack as she would II read
a for action. according 20 Rear Admlra
il Taylor, chief constructor Of the navy
$ Norfolk. Va, July 20.-Because
N heavy weather outside oi the cape
;. naval planes under orders TO take pal
70 In the bombing Of the former Gcrina
a. battlcship Ostricsland. were held
the base today. until further order
y the attack scheduled for this mornin
being postponed until later In u
DAY.