The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-06-25

number of any country's cruisers it
did limit the size, to 10000 tons II
limited them also to S-inch guns.
Japan previously had thirteen
cruisers, Of $3.50 total tonnage
with % and 6-inch guns. She was
building tour more. Of $50 tons
each. In view of the treaty she laid
down an additional four, each 1900
tons.
Secrecy wells these eight ships ar
mament, but it's believed to consist
Of SO, and finch guns. Nor was
this all. Work was begun on still
another four vessels. Of 10000 tons
each with Simon guns.
SO, before long, Japan viii have
a. cruiser fleet twenty-five strong.
totaling 1870 tons.
The treaty found America with ten
cruisers, built or building. Of 1900
tons each. all with 6.inch guns.
These vessels are up-to-date and
as the figures show, for strength
they don't equal Japan's.
In addition. the United States has
ten practically obsolete so-called
cruisers of the Huron, Pittsburgh
and Seattle type, really only gun
boats, Of neither speed nor gun
power to qualify them for cruiser
service today.
Britain's showing is thirty-five
! cruisers Of 156,190 total tons. with
four more building. representing 34.-
500 tons-altogether thirty-nine ships
Of 100, 100 tons.
"A compa rison-75,c COO American
cruiser tons to- Br1taln's 190,790 and
Japan's 1871 730-isn't as much in
Britains favor as the figures
suggest, since the British light
/ cruisers according to a United
States official naval report. were
built mostly for North Sea work,
and are inferior in type, with a few
exceptions. to ours or the Japanese. -
But as between America and
Japan the figures are too weak, for
America S ships not only are out
numbered but out-weighed, out
4 gunned and out-manned
! Alt nav VI Tie L DlLEd OtdLGSs
says the secretary of the navy's last
report, is so Unbalanced and so
deficient in cruiser strength that it
would be at a serious disadvantage
in major operations Of any kind.
| Vessels (cruisers) still in service Of
the type Of the Pittsburgh, Denver
and Salem are useful for peace
. ! r4-rY h,,f ha !,
out value in time of war
The raiders that drive our com.
! merce from the sea, that attack our
transports and supply ships, can
never be oyertaken unless we build
cruisers to do the work"
Americas destroyer showing would
be excellent if her vessels quality
were i'll proportion to their mum
ber-274, as compared with Britain S
1875 in service and five building and
with Japan's sixty-three, not count
ing what she is building now.
I'm destroyers, says a United
States Navy report of March, 1924
the British and more than 200 more
than Japan, but Japan is building
thirty-one new ones, while ours, are
mostly of hasty war construction
and two-thirds Of them are out Of
commission. Our boats have less
gunpower, but more torpedo tubes
than either the British or Japan,
ese"
Lack of destroyer leaders," adds
Admiral R. E. Coontz in his report
On the Culebra maneuvers of 1924,
has been keenly felt. Present de
stroyers used as f1agships have not
that excess Of offensive force, speed
and reliability which they ought to
have in order to lead. A commander
is crowded to a degree incompatible
with planning and for proper
J directioneof the vessels under him. .