Evening star., 1924-12-11
12LARGE CRUISERS
MAY Be NAVY PLAN
Interest Drawn to 10000
Ton Craft Urged by
Wilbur.

Interest is being focused on the
proposed 10,000-ton cruiser, equipped
with powerful guns of S-inch and
new type, since SecreS Sary Wilbur
pointed out to Representative French
that such vessels must be built IN
order to bring the United States navy
up to the 5-5-3 treaty ratio.
The Navy Department has not di-
vulged any of the plans for these
powerful fleet auxiliaries, although
provision for laying down eight of
the ships Is contained in the pending
naval bill and there is reason to be-
lieve that the general board has
recommended increasing this number
10 a dozen vessels.
Considerable interest also is being
manifested in the new S-inch rifle that
The Navy ordnance experts already
have developed. This is the limit OF
the size of guns allowed for auxiliary
craft.
Secretary Wilbur pointed out that
the initial velocity of the S-inch shell
could be increased, which, i'll turn,
would increase the striking power.
Increased velocity could be obtain
ed either by improved explosives or
increased length of gun. Since the
Navy adopted a 5l-caliber 6-inch gun
for the only modern cruisers now IN
900 tons-it appears probable that
the S-iuch guns also have been in
creased in length to increase range
and hitting power. \ 5l-caliber. g.
inch gun would be a weapon 3S feet
in length, or almost as long as the
rue-time 13-inch monsters or that
historic old warrior, the oregon,
queen of the Navy in her day. Ihose
v ere S5-caliber guns.
The number of guns each or the
En.OOO tonners is to mount has not
Lcen disclosed. lntimations nave
..,,ue from abroad, however, that the
British post treaty cruisers VIII carry
eight or ten S-inch guns, or possibly
1riue, mounted in trios under light
bousfrp TO protect them from the
rush of water in a seaway so that
tItey could fight even under Such con-
Gftions The size of the ships, pre-
~nuably. would permit such arma-
men. without radical loss in the high
speed necessary for the carrying OUT
Of their mission. 1t is to be expected
that the plans of both services con-
4e,nuIate maximum gun power con-
,isteut with high speed and fuel ca
,,acitv for 10000 or 1900 miles with
out refueliDg.
Recent American ships, even to the
first 2O00-tou fleet submarine -,
have been equipped with electrlc
nhtainable through having full power
available in reverse. It would cause
little surprise If the American post
treaty cruisers also proved to be
manned for electric propulsion when
the details are revealed, and II seems
certain they will be INTENDED 10 ap-
DrOach a maximum speed of 50 knots
and TO be able to sustain fairly
high speed even in heavy sea.
What the advantage would be to a
navy possessing such ships as these
against an opponent with only de-
strovers equipped with four-inch guns
or old cruisers was pictured IN
statement issued last night by the
Navy League;
Post st-conference light cruisers are
1n.OO0-ton ships mounting or 10
eight-tnch guns" the statement said.
'Their speeds are practically equal
ITO modern, 35-knot destroyers), with
the cruisers at an advantage in a
heavy sea.
THE light cruisers could drive in
deStroyers in feet action, and thus
prevent them from performing scout
ing duties: in commerce warfare, the
cruiser could wipe the destroyers
from the sea, ordinarily without risk
to itself
1T should be remembered that
light cruiser of today is vastly supe-
Tior to the predreadnaught battie-
ship of 90 years ago. Its guns have
longer range and greater striking
power It's speed is almost double
that of old battleships- 1t could de-
stroy either battleships or cruisers of
two decades ago without subject1ns
itself TO risk"
The league statement cited the bat
tie Of Coronel, when Admiral Grad
docks British squadron OF old ships
was destroyed by German force of
equal tonnage, but in modern ships,
almost without injury to the German
craft; the lesson being duplicated at
the Falkland Islands fight subse-
uuently, when a British battle cruis-
er squadron rounded up the Ger
mans and hammered them to pieces
while standing out of range Of the
German guns.
"Obsolescence of warships is no
theory" the statement declared. at
was clearly demonstrated in the
World War"
The statement added that the Amer
lean Navy had built or had in process
of construction only the 7,500ton-
ners in cruiser strength, which may
be said to have military value" all
III, - Il ohC In%o