The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-15
BIG Guns PLAY.
IMPORTANT
PART
Do Not Always Win Battle.
However, as Shown by
Admiral FuIIam.
By w. r. FULLAM,
ReAR Admiral o. 8. Navy, Retired.
(WRittqn for Cosmopolitan News

-
(WFitten for oosmOpOlitan Newu
Gervico.)
| We hear a great deal about the
Importance Of big guns in the
navy. In discussing the 1858"
ratio between the United States.
England. and Japan. established by
the Washington conference, naval
writer's, whether landsmen or bona
fide experts" give such emphasis
to big guns ana their possible range
that all other elements that may
affect the result of future battles
on the sea--in fact elements that
will probably decide the issue of
modern WARFARE ignored or so sub.
lordinated that they disappear from
view!
Now Il may be safely admitted
tnat, other things being equal, the
i!eef that has the bigger guns with
the longest range will win. But
other things may not be equal.
They have not been equal in the
past. And 30 it has happened that
the biggest guns have not always
won! They have often Iost-disas-
trously! And they may lose in the
future, with humiliation to the ma.
ton that places its faith In them
with unintelligent appreciation of
the dominating power OF new weap.
ons. In the new naval era, the
reign OF the big gun il MANAGED.
It may BE- dethroned.
Part Of Big Guns.
, Let US discuss briefly the part
9layed by big guns in the great
naval battles Of the past thirty
years or 80. The Chinese had twice :.
as many big guns (guns above
S-inch) az the Japanese, but the
Japanese had q big preponderance
OF guns under S-inch. The Japanese,
with few big guns, won a decisive
victory. And they had fewer ar
mored ships, too. The Japanese
cruisers, with superior speed, made
circles around the Chinese fleet and
deluged 1t with q rain of small
caliber shells. Had the heavier and
slower Chinese ships been 80 han
died as to keep their big guns bear
ing at all times: had they maneu.
vered with Judgment on an interior
and smaller circle they would have
neutralized In some measure the al.
vantage Of Japanese speed. At all
events, big guns did not win.
I Next consider our war with Spain.
At Manila and Santiago the fleets
OF Dewey and Sampson were over
whelming1y superior to the feets Of
Montajo and Cervera. They were
superior not only in big guns but
IN all other respects except perhaps
- regards the speed Of Cervera's
ships, which the conditions Of the
battle at Santiago nullified. The
Spanish fleets were defeated before
these battles began-not by guns
| alone. but by a combination of all
elements that enter into a naval
combat. No lesson can be drawn
from the Spanish war that would
apply in the discussion Of big gun
power. To be sure we might p7inS
out that If the Spaniards hai
planted mines at the entrance Of
Manila bay, Dewey could not have
entered one harbor, and there would
nave been no battle. And II the
Spaniards had had submarines and
air forces in superior force, Dewey
ana sampson could not have ap-
preached within 100 miles of Manila
or Santiago. Guns would have had
nothing to do in either case In de-
Gliding the war.
Battle I'm Strata.
Next consider the battle In the
Strait Of Tsushima. In protected
cruisers and torpedo craft the ia
panese fleet had a big superiority.
In big guns the Russians had an
overwhelming superiority. But they
were overwhelmingly defeated! The
Japanese outmaneuvereda and crushed
the Russians by skill in tactics and
IN the superior discipline and train.
ing OF their personnel. The big
gun was the smallest factor. It
contributed least toward victory.
| Briefly. the same general reason
Ing applies and similar conditions
existed in the battle of Jutland.
Nearly all the fighting took place
between the Scouting Forces of
Won Hipper and Beatty. Five Ger
man battle cruisers armed with H.
inch and 12-inch guns engaged
nine British battle cruisers and
four British battleships armed with
1S.5-inch and 15-inch guns. With
these comparatively small guns the
Germans sank three British battle
cruisers. The German ships were
hit many times but they all re.
turned to port. The big gun did
not win.