Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-25

BY the Associated Press.
While the eyes of the world have
been fixed on Americas tranSoceanic
flyers, naval construction experts
have been quietly studying the situa
ton with view of determining the
effect of the spectacular advance OF
aviation on the future battleship.
Strangely enough. the one change
upon which there appears degree OF
unanimity of opinion in naval circles
will result from considering aircraft
rs an adjunct rather than as an
enemy of the battleship. BY this 1t Is
meant that the new facility VIII DE
used for spotting and correcting the
fire of the big guns.
Naval men say this use OF the plane
in battle time will make for the great.
est possible elevation and range OF
guns, as accurate fire can be had at
a much greater distance than prop
ably even was dreamed of before the
plane came into use for the hre con-
troll.
Another question on which a large
Number of American naval men seem
to agree is against the complnation
battleship and airplane carrier, Wnlcn
has been suggested since the DAYS OIL
the airplane bombing of the old war
ships off the Virginia coast during the
past or years.
Landing Decks Vulnerable.
Even If such a type of craft could
be built under the naval limitation
treaty.. some experts can find no ad-
vantage in such a ship over the sepa.
rate fighting craft and the carrier or
the present. They say that the ef-
fectiveness of the battleship would be
materially decreased If guns were
sacrificed for airplane landing deck.
These same experts declare the bat
tleship must be able to stand up and
receive, as well as give, the hardest
knocks. A flying deck Is by its very
nature unprotected, and, therefore, eX-
tremely vulnerable to attack. These
two characteristics cannot. therefore,
be consistently embodied in a single
ship, they believe. The battleship OF
the future, they argue, unquestiOnably
will have incorporated in it's design
efficient means for launching limited
number of aircraft of the amphibian
type, but there will be no provision
for them to land back on board in
battle.
There is a school Of thought in the
American Navy for the most powerful
battleships, within the tonnage limita.
ton of the Washington treaty.
equipped with a few planes for fire
control and scouting work, but de-
pending for its main air protection
upon planes carried by ships espe-
cially designed or converted for that
purpose.
British Ships Cause Conjecture.
Some years ago when the great new
British battleships, the Rodney and
Nelson, were under construction there
were reports that they were combina-
ton aircraft carriers and battleships,
but 1t has since developed that they
probably have no provision for air
craft at all.
They carry nine 16-inch guns, ar
ranged in threes in three turrets, all
of which are located forward. This
gave rise to the conjecture that the
after deck would be used for launch
ing and taking on aircraft. These
ships are at the maximum treaty limit
of $4,000 tons, with particular atten-
ton given to armor protection.
There is conflict of thought as to
whether the bombing airplane will
make necessary greater speed for the
future capital ship as a means of de-
Tense aside from friendly airplanes
and anti-aircraft guns or will force
of present speed for greater
armo: protection both on deck and
hull.
Protection against bombs exploded
alongside Of battleship. which