Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-03
ENGLAND AND JAPAN LEAVE US.
FAR BEHIND IN LIGHT CRUISERS

Continued from First PageD
twas left at the post" 1t is Tapping
listlessly in the breeze.
1t is Old Glory.
There is something wrong, all right
Uncle Sam seems to have fallen asleep
at the wheel His little fleet OF 10
ships doesn't appear to be moving
forward at all The bewhiskered pilot
is engrossed in perusing a nice paper
program for future ships. Maybe he
is too busy doing that to give atten'
ton to strengthening his position un'
der existing agenda. Anyway, he
hasn't even taken the trouble to avail
himself of the authorization to put
three more cruisers on the sea. lie
has the authorization in one pocket
and the money to build them in the
other, but so far he just hasn't been
able to bring himself to the point OF
spending the money called for.
The Money Seems Lacking.
>
pertinent question:
whats the use of planning a 10
cruiser program for the future if you
can't even get the money to com
plete an S-cruiser program author
ICED two years ago?"
1t is lust this question that propO-
nents of a better national defense are
asking as the whole naval problem
FORCES it's way to the floor of Con
greSS.
They are asking the value of 5-5-S
ratio with regard to capital ships
when the powers are permitted to go
the limit" with respect to the indis-
pensable, fast ship of the cruiser
type.
The American Navy does not have
to deny that it is participating in
three sided race for naval supremacy.
Statistics culled from official sources
prove there is no race, so far as
America is concerned. America With
drew from the race on the signing of
the arms treaty This, however, did
not stop the race abroad, where COM
petition in auxiliary types of vessels
has gone merrily on.
Briefly and roughly, the interna-
tional ratio of cruiser strength today,
including ships built. building or ap-
priated for, is 5-2-1, the 5 represent
ing Great Britain, the Japan and
the last digit America. The actual
ratio, according to number OF vessels,
is: Great Britain, 5; Japan, 2.3l, ana
United States, 1.3S.
Cruisers Importance Undisputed.
The importance of the cruiser in
naval warfare is undisputed, accord
ing to those who have made study OF
sea power. The first-line light cruiser,
with it's 10000 or less tonnage, Its
speed of 81 knots plus, and it's to 8
inch batteries, can make or break
the fleet. Without the cruiser to pro-
tect it, the battleship is in bad way
the ready prey of enemy destroyers'
cruisers and aircraft carriers.
The cruiser is the fastest ship of
war afioat, and eclipses in speed, as
we'll, all merchant vessels. IL is
capable of giving decisive battle to any
warship, excepting the gigantic capt.
tai craft. Naval officials say that,
other factors being equal. the fleet
most effectively supported by light
forces will be victorious. Most i'm
portant of all light ships are the cruz
,ers, for they are the destroyers' great
est menace. The destroyer, in turn, is
the archenemy of the submarine,
whose willy torpedoes are the biggest
hazard faced by the capital ship-ex-
GLIDING broadsides from opposing bat
tleShipS
The feet with the superior compile
ment of light forces has an outstand-
ing advantage over the fleet with a
limited supply of such ships. A SUI
periority of cruisers is certain to de-
eide the opening engagement between
the light craft of opposing fleets in
battle.
Has Sufficient DestrOyers.
The United States is well off at pres
ent as far as destroyers go, but with
out sufficient cruisers to pave the way
for their operations, the offensive
value of destroyers is seriously af-
fected. The cruiser must drive off the
light ships Of the enemy and thus pre-
vent him getting within vision range
of our fleet The cruiser must frus-
trate plans of aircraft carriers to
launch an air force. 1t must scout
around for information as to the
movements Of the opposing fleet. It
must perform many other duties
Tinted Stat