The New York herald., 1921-12-25
FUTURE OF NAVAL
ACADEMY ASSURED
Limitation of Armament
Cannot Scrap Training
Equipment.
CHANGES ARE PROBABLE
Fewer Appointments Likely,
but Post Graduate Work
May BE Extended.

spccial Dispo;ch to TIE New YORK HERALD.
ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 2i.--There is diff
ference among naval people here as TO
the effect upon the navy and the Naval
academy of the permanent limitation
plan if adopted along the lines which
row seem probable The general opin-
ion is that the quota of naval officers
viii not bc greatly reduced for some
Years. and that the academy will con-
tinue along approximately the same
Lines as at present.
While it IS thought that legislation
likely to be enacted r, pursuance of the
armament plan may reduce the number
Of annual appointments TO the Naval
academy. and consequently the size of
the new classes. ii is not believed
that the reduction will be drastic, as
it will be necessary to train as many
officers for q full complement under
the new plan as are now in the navy.
Attention has also been called to the
plcndid plant, equipment and organiza-
ton now at the Naval Academy, and it
is believed that uses will be found for
Il in its entirety. 1t has been sug-
gested that officers of the Marine Corps,
the Coast Guard, the Revenue Service
and other branches of the Government
viii be trained at the Naval Academy,
and that courses may also be con-
Quoted for officers Of the merchant ma
iinc
1t is further thought probable that
the necessity OF a greater number of
trained reserve officers will be apparent
and that arrangements will be made
90 offer limited courses to civilians
belonging to this service or desiring to
ontcr IT, This is based on the belief
that the safety OF the nation. in the
nf will
ability to provide an afficent emerg-
olicy force as promptly as possible.
Il is generally believed that post grad
1,ate work will be on a larger scale than
over. Upon this point recent address
0f Capt. John Halligan, U. S. N, head
- the engineering experiment station
hsre. sheds much light. Capt. Haliigan.
Ia addressing the Y. NJ G. A. of the
academy, said that for n twofold rea-
son the greatest effect Of disarmament
would be to give big impetus to naval
research. He pointed out that if this ma
tion is to be limited as to the number
and size of its ships those ships must
5e made as efficient as possible, and
hat the respite from the continual build
ing of warshps would give our experts
IN opportunity Of giving their undivided
attention to the designing of a ship OF
he maximum fighting strength and ef-
ficicncy within the designated limits.
Capt. Halllgan believes the warship
% the future will be made of aluminium
ailoy and driven by an engine of inter-
raj combustion type, as the Diesel en-
Sine. He said that the experiment sta
ton had produced an aluminium alloy
OF one-third the weight of steel and with
50 per cent. Of its tensile strength. and
that better results were indicated. He
said that Diesel engines of extreme
lightness had already been constructed.
and that the Naval Department had
placed q t.rs for some TO be used in
power boats.
Another notable statement by Capt.
Haligan was the radio compass was
being developed to such q degree that
IL would soon be practicable for ships,
through it's use. to sail all over the
world without taking an observation.
Another line of naval experiment and
iIvestigation, Capt. Halligan stated,
was in the development of the hydro
olIone sounding device, which, he said.
would soon take the place of the sound
ing machine. The hydrophone meas
ures depths by means Of the angle o.
sound detected from the bottom.