The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-02-21

Service. said yes The Navy said no
President Coolidge wanting the truth. or,
composed of seven admirals. one ma Of
general and one naval commander exam
med seventy-six witnesses-including Gen
eral Mitchell, most OF the aviation ex
perts in the country and many naval Off
cers-then made report. Here II Is
boiled down.
t@ EA power is vital to the life
IA of the nation. The three
N most. important elements of
sea power are: first, powerful and
efficient Navy. Second, properly
equipped and defended bases for the
use of the fleet in areas where hos.
tilities may occur. Third, a mer'
chant marine.
The mission of our Navy is to
support the national policies and
guard American interests and pos
sessions in all parts Of the world.
Our Navy should be second to none.
We are a peace-loving nation.
None of our foreign policies is Of an
aggressive nature. Still. several of
them are sucn as to require a
strong Navy fer their support. The
Monroe Doctrine IL a notable ex-
ample. The policy Of the "open
door" is another. -.
If we are to continue the policy
of avoiding entangling alliances, we
must be prepared to stand alone
against possible combina ions.
Fleet Ultimate Force
The fleet, which includes all types
of combatanN and necessary auxil.
larry units, is the ultimate force EN-.
ployed in the exercise of sea power.
A properly constituted fleet con.
sists Of battleships. battle cruisers
cruisers, aircraft carriers, aircraft
oestroyers. submarines. minelayers
and auxiliaries.
The bsttleship is the element OF
ultimate force in the feet and al
other elements are contributory &c
the fulfillment of its function as the
final arbiter in sea warfare.
From time to time appa ,eni
threats to the supremacy Of thu, hat
tieship have appeared. Each has re,
suited in some modification of its
design and in the methods of its EN-.
ployment in war. But its supremacy
remains.
Aviation has introduced a new
and highly important factor in war
fare both on the land and on the
sea. It's influence on naval warfare
undoubtedly will increase in the fu
ture. But the prediction that 1t will
assume paramount importance IL
sea warfare will not be realized.
Airplanes Limited
Airplane performance is inherent.
ly limited by physical laws. The air.
ship also has valuable characters
tics, but it's great vulnerability
makes it of doubtful value in war.
Aircraft cannot operate from ter
ritory that is not controlled by the
military or naval forces. OF their own
country. They cannot occupy terri
tory nor control the sea.
Airplanes cannot reach distant
overseas areas under their own pow.
er with any effective military load
Therefore they cannot operate enec
lively, unless supplied with ammuri
ton and fuel.
Within, $50 miles Of their bases
airplanes may constitute serious
threat to surface ships, land forces
cities and industrial centers. Be
you'd that they cannot transport
borabs heavy enough to do much
damage. To answer that threat an
anti.aircraft defense must be pro
Wded. Hostile aircraft carriers
should not be allowed to approach
within that distance Of our coast.
Can Protect Ships
The battleship Of the future can be
so designed as not to be subject to
fatal damage from the air. 1t can
not be said, therefore, that air at
tack has rendered the battleship OBJ
| solete.
But airplanes are Of great value to
the fleet in scouting, observation
bombing and spotting for long-cis.
lance gunf1re. Aviation has taken
its place as an element of the fleet
and can not be separated from 1t.
Commercial aviation should be en-.
couraged, as should the further de-
velopment Of military aviation, in
order that this very important ele.
ment in the national defense may
be brought to the high point Of effi-
cheney necessary to insure the nat
ural safety