Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-11
tactical and strategic strength OF the

tactical and strategic strength OF the
fleet:
Tent housa nd ton cruisers, airplane
carriers. submarines. destroyer lead.
ers and alrplanes.
'The program for cruisers will give
the United States. as soon as prac.
ticabIe. the necessary cruiser strength
The lack OF modern cruisers Is very
serious and constitutes the Nays
greatest weakness today. The dema nd
for them from every strategical and
tactical point of view is urgent. The
efficiency Of the fleet for battle de-
Ponds largely upon early information
both strategical and tactical, uron
ample provision for guarding the
auxiliaries Of the fleet. which in many
cases must accompany it upon ample
provision for guarding the fleet and
other essential lines OF communica.
ton; upon ample provision for sup
porting units of destroyers Of the fact
in their offensive and defensive roles.
For MI of those purposes cruisers are
essential.
Every war game. whether played
At the War College or carried out i'm
practice on the high seas emphasize
the need for an increased number Of
vessels Of tho cruiser type The mum.
her called for Is the result Of the OK.
p"ricnces Of war and annual postwar
combined fleet exercises and repre.
SCENTS the conclusions of comma ndors-
in-chiff aiinat and the general board
In addition to the urgent need Of
cruisers for stratcgical and tactical
employment with the feet. there will
in war he insistent demands for them
to guard commercial lines Of com.
munication. and TO destroy enemy
raiders.
Useful i'm Peace Times.
Their duties in peace are of a
wide variety. not the least of which
il aid TO our overseas trade Our
merchants and anufacturcrs must
not only hold the foreign markets We
have gained but as European condi
lions return to normal we must ever
seek now markets for their output
if our prosperity is To continue
showing the flag has very marked
influence upon their endeavors and
tho measure of their success is in
fluenccd in no small degree by the
prestige which upto date and smart.
looking modern cruisers create and
foster
1.-THE cruisers recommended would
he very largely requirements of oh
soiete ships now carried in n decom
missioned status ut the various navy
yards. as follows:
Eleven sccondline cruisers. total
displacement. 199.577: II small second.
line cruisers, total displacement, a.
523; total standard tons. l64.1o0.
The newest OF these second-line
cruisers would he beyond the age
limit Of 20 years before they could he
replaced. These - vessels all lack
speed. cunpower and a general fit.
ness for modern naval service. They
cannot be classed with the modern
cruiser
destroyer leaders are required tn
provide one for each squadron OF IS
deStroyers The tactical task Of han
dlrg destroyers in action ia OF the
highest Importance and requires spe
cial facilities for communication, in.
creased room for personnel and the
equipment incident TO their duties as
fiagships. Although destroyers are
used for this purpose at present. the
efficiency of the squadrons as whole
suffers fer the lack OF squadron
leaders
The art Of submarine construction
and OF submarine operation has sd-
vanced materially in recent years. 50
that IL Is now possible 10 operate SUB.
marines ~ suitable type for long pc.
RODS a. sea. This development is ore