The New York herald., 1921-02-20
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Feb. 10. J


ability of an aviator to drop
bombs on battleships, but there
can be no disputing the fact that Brig-Gen.
William Mitchell of the Army Air Service
dropped a petard of no small dimensions
into the most sedate and dignifed naval
circles when he told the Appropriations
Committee Of the House that any surface
craft the navy has can be damaged, de-
stroyed or sunk" by aircraft
Though Gen. Mitchell specifically stated
that he had no idea Of recommending that
battleships be abandoned "at present"
many naval officers take the attitude that
his premises inevitably commit him to such
a course, and they are opposing his con-
tentions on that basis. Others see in the
Generals onslaught a desire to remove the
naval air service from control Of the Navy
Department and consolidate all aviation
IN the United States in a single Independent
department headed by Cabinet officer,
and they are prepared to fight this pro-
posal tooth and nail.
From Secretary Daniels down, the
navy men pooh-pooh the statements Of Gen.
Mitchell, while the General smilingly an
SWeTS jill uulpS Will lut SldlclHcHI Ills
claims were made before duly constituted
Congressional committee and that he is
ready to substantiate them whenever the
navy sees fit to furnish ships for the
demonstration.
Inasmuch as Secretary Daniels and
Secretary Baker Of the War Department
have mutually agreed that experiments
should be conducted Jointly to demonstrate
the value of aircraft in naval warfare,
and the Joint Army and Navy Board has
the matter under consideration, 1t would
seem probable that Gen. Mitchell would
eventually gain his opportunity.
Congress Asks That Ships
Be Given for Experiments
resolution has been introduced in Con
gress by Senator New directing the Navy
Department to turn over certain old ships
for experimental purposes Secretary
Daniels has suggested that the former Ger
man ship Ostfriesland, which must be sunk,
might be used, and 1t also has been in
timated that the radio controlled Iowa
might be provided to permit ship move
ments which would help to simulate actual
battle conditions. 1t has not been stated,
however, whether the air service will be
permitted to do the bombing, or whether, as
4, the past, the navy will confne such work
to naval aviators.
eve have bombs," says Gen. Mitchell,
(which we think are capable Of demolish-
ing or putting out Of action at least not
only all auxiliary ships but capital ships
rs we'll With these same bombs, as dis
tnguished from projectiles fired out of can
non, we have greater percentage Of hits
over 10000 yards than have cannon pro-
jectiles.'
To which Secretary Daniels retorts
1--WE are not taking Admiral Mltchells
advice very seriously In the navy" And
when asked IL he would be willing to re-
main aboard battleship while General
Mitchell who is pilot, bombed It, the Sec
retary said:
"If Admiral Mitchell doesn't handle
bombs any more accurately than he handles
facts. I should be perfectly willing to let
him bomb me all day long"
The navy contention is, first, that 1t
would he practically impossible for an air
plane 10 drop bomb on n modern battle
ship which was manGuvring at full speed
and utilizing its anti-aircraft batteries and
its own aircraft; and, second, that even If
II should happen to be hit, the explosion
would probably not be of sufficient force to
incapacitate the ship.