Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-28
PLANES SINK
Dat TTLESH|P IN
AERIAL At TACK
Arkansas Theoretically
Destroyed in Maneu-
vers at Sea.

Norfolk, Va. Sept. 27.-Diametri-
cally opposite opinions developed
among observing officers as the results
of the maneuvers off the Virginia
capes Wednesday when a squadron Of
torpedo planes searched out three
ships of the Atlantic fleet. and theo-
retically destroyed one of them.
Seven hits were registered out of IL
torpedoes discharged, all finding their
mark on the Arkansas.
In the opinion of Rear Admiral W.
A. Moffett, chief of the naval air serv-
ice, and Colonel G. E. Danforth, army
air service, commandant of Langley
field, Va, the test was satisfactory in
all respects, demonstrating, In their
view, that planes equipped with tor
pedoes can successfully attack battle
ships from the surface, especially if
protected by a smoke screen or fog.
Naval officers of the staff and line
attached to the battle fleet, on the
other hand, generally contend that
Wednesdays experim ents only proved
that the planes are effective within
limited radius from their base and
that the two sQuadrons could have
been annihilated before coming within
striking distance of the dreadnaught,
had the battleships been protected by
the usual smoke screen. They also
contend that the secondary batteries
of the warships under battle conditions
could have blown to atoms every plane
before 1t had an opportunity to rs
charge its destructive cargo.
Eighteen Planes In Battle
Eighteen planes participated in the
mimic battle, but one failed to discharge
its missile. The test was staged under
ideal weather conditions.
Promptly at 8 o'clock, the flagship
Wyoming, with Admiral j. e. McDcn-
aid, commander chief of the battle
ship force of the Atlantic fleet, on
board, and the super-dreadnaught
Arkansas and North Dakota, got under
way and headed out to sea. After
steaming three hours, the fleet reached
the rendezvous about 80 miles off the
capes and awaited attack.
At 9:20, the lookouts on the flag
ship sighted the naval dirigible CT,
which was followed shortly afterwards
by flotilla of scout planes and others
carrying observers.
At 10:1S, the first squadron of nine
torpedo planes appeared on the horiz-
on. and the battleships put on forced
draught and began maneuvering at full
speed to keep the attacking forces
astern. General quarters were sound
ed on all the ships and they were
trained on the rapidly advancing ZEN
emy" AS the second squadron of
torpedo laden fliers drew near, Ad-
miral Mcdonald placed his ships so as
to avoid the enemy force, keeping one
squadron ahead and the other astern.
Arkansas In Center
The dreadnaughts went into battle
with the target ship Arkansas in the
the three warships preventing q broad
side. Changing their tactics, the planes
attacked on the flanks of the fleet and
concentrated on the Arkansas, scoring
their first hit on the starboard quarter.
The angle fire was kept on the other
two battleships, which were constantly
maneuvering at full speed. The flag
ship narrowly escaped being hit by
clever maneuvering, and the North
Dakota also escaped theoretical de-
struction by a small margin
Commander Bartlett, of the attack
ing force, maneuyered his planes around
the warships, seeking every opportu-
nifty to strike a vital spot and fire.
quently succeeded.
The crews of the battleships, handi-
capped by the absence of supporting
destroyers, were forced to defend
themselves with their rudders, their
guns being silent.
Two of tne nlanes were forcad down
after the test their gasoline tanks
becoming empty after they had passed
the capes on their return to the naval
base here. The battleship Delaware
was scheduled to take part in the
maneuvers, but instead remained at
anchlr.