The Washington times., 1924-05-08
HAS. ONL Y
TEN SUCH
CRAFT
English Have Fifty and Are
Constructing Five Others.
Can Build Under Treaty
BY WILLIAM HARD.


The article in this series on the
condition of our navy yesterday
having dealt with the subject Of
our capital ships, except in the
matter Of speed, today's dispatch
will deal with the subject Of fast
auxiliary surface vessels, such as
destroyers and scout cruisers, and
with the subject of speed in gen.
eral. ,->E,
1t is admitted that the average
speed Of our line-of-battle capital
ships is considerably below the
average speed Of the line-of-battle
capital ships of Britain. On this
point many tears are shed by pa
triots who despair Of the chances
Of our battle fleet in action.
Tears Wasted, Navy View.
Authoritative naval opinion is to
the effect. however, that in general
these tears are wasted.
az OAA4SISIIC VI average SPOCO
between the British line-of- battle
fleet and the American line.of.
battle fleet is not believed to be
sufficient to enable the British
fleet to manoeuvre itself into any
position in which it would have
any material advantage over our
fleet, provided that the guns of our
cider battleships are elevated suf-
ficiently to give them a range
equal to the average British range.
This elevation can be readily &C.
OompliShed. When the accomplish
nlent, Of it has been authorized by
Congress and has happened, the
difference in relative speeds be-
tween the two fleets is not worth
one moments weeping or wailing in
the opinion Of the majority of
American designers and COM
nanders.
The reason can easily be seen
even by a layman. In battle the
two fleets would be drawn up, and
would move forward, in opposing
lines. Neither line could move
faster than its slowest unit.
British Fast But Weak.
Certain units in the British line
are extremely fast.
They also, at the same time, be.
g cause of the space and the weight
which they have given within them
selves to the production Of speed,
are relatively weak and frail III
armored protection.
They would have to stay in line
and get pounded because they could
not go ahead. Of the line and get
separated from the taiI Of the B3e
without %I1a xry1or,Ia
tsh battle formation. The speed OF
the whole British line would accord.
inly be the speed Of the s1owest boat
in it. The speed Of this slowest
boat does not exceed the speed of
, our slowest boat by any margin
worth considering in successful bat
tie maneuvers, in the opinion Of our
most authoritative and experienced
admirals.
The excess British speed is suf
Sicient to be terrifying on paper
It is not, sufficient to count for
anything on the water in practice
becaue in practice, IN order to cir
Gle around a fleet with our average
speed of twenty-one knots, the Brit
ish would have to have an average
speed we'll up into the upper TWEEN
ties, and they do not and will not
have it.
Opinions Of Experts.
Such is the firm opinion of our
bost experts, who, after having
known everything about British
high speeds. proceeded to design
our greatest and best prospective
battleships, which now have been
strapped, and proceeded to- give
them a speed only-at the most
Of twenty-three knots.
Americans, it Is believed, should
understand that from the very be-
ginning of the exploits of our navy
back in revolutionary days and
back in the days of the War OF
1872, we always have preferred
weight Of armament to excess OF
speed. We won victories against
the British in the War of 1912
largely by subordinating lightness
OF movement to heaviness and nu.
nervousness Of guns.
That was our policy then, and il
was successful and it Is our policy
now.
From the speed standpoint, there.
fore, in respect Of our capital ships,
1t may be said in general that our
navy stands pat and awaits the out.
come with confidence. We then
come to destroyers and to scout
cruisers. These are the two vital
sorts of auxiliary naval surface
vessels.
Excess of Destroyers.
In destroyers the American navy
has an undoubted numerical super.
iority over the British navy and
certainly at least an equality with
1t in efficiency, as proved by the
comments of British naval com.
manders during the great war. We
indeed have a sort of excess of
destroyers. 1t is thought that it is
only fair that while considering
our points of relative weakness
we should also consider our points
OF relative superior advantage. In
destroyers we have the advantage
We come then, however, in the
end, to scout cruisers. Here indeed
we are badly off and here indeed
we have the moral right, as well
as the legal treaty right and the
national duty, to make ourselves
stronger.
In cruisers which really are first.
line genuine fast scout vessels The
british have fifty while we have
ten. The British additionally are
equipping themselves with five
more.
In fairness again Il must Ia
stated that our ten are all OF then
faster than any except four Of