Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
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type Of vessel, which has assumed ma jor
proportions in public interest because
Of the fight in and out of Congress
that is going forward around the ques-
ton: Shall Uncle Sam build Is
cruisers at this time?: Next In value
70 the battleship for sea operations is
che light cruiser The modern light
cxuiEer is a vessel of great speed, rea-
Fonably heavy guns-though not as
heavy as those on battleghips-slight
afnor protection and considerable
cruising radius. Her duties are, when
with the feet, to guard the fleets
movements as a scout and to act as a
protective screen. In action cruisers
ere necessary to attack on their own
part the cruisers of the enemy, to break
down destroyer attacks and to help
carry in to the enemy our own de-
Stroyer attacks.
IF the feet is to operate away from
its base, cruisers are necessary to guard
the lines Of communications and to
escort conveys. Away from the feet
they are the vessels primarily used to
break the enemy's lines Of conmurica-
ta0n, to protect our own commerce and
to destroy the enemys commerce"
Cruisers are capable of making more
than thirty knots an hour, compared
with the battleships, which make only
about twenty knots. Apart from the
cruisers value in actual warfare, when
they steam ahead of the main battle
fleet, spot the enemy and engage its
vanguard in actual combat. they are
considered important in times of peace,
for their prpaf Snaed Doe than of
9nuch greater use in times when speed
is a vital factcr--Such as in rushing
relief to stricken areas.
Vessels in Construction.
The newest cruiser of the American
Navy now in commission is the u. S. 8
Memphis. which was seen by countless
Washingtonians when that vesscl
brought Col. Charles A. Lindberg back
from Europe after his triumphal fight
Now being constructed are the eight
cruisers of 10000 tons each-the Pen
sacola, Salt Lake City, Northampton
Chester, CT %, Chicago, Houston and
Augusta. The designation ct" stand
ing for cruiser, light" is arbitrarily
given to cruisers before they are off,
cially named.
The Salt Lake City, the first of these
to be commissioned, it is expected. will
be ready late this year or early in
1890. No cruisers are now appropriated
for as a future program.
The British Empire has these cruiser:
now being built-the London, Devon
shire, Shropshire, Sussex, Dorsetshire
Norfolk, York and Exeter-eight in all
The first six are of 10000 tons each
end the two latter are Of $500 ton
each. In addition, two more have beer
appropriated for.
Japan has building the Myoko, Ha
guro, Ashigara, Atago, Takao and Cho
kai, six cruisers of 10000 tons each, anC
the Maya, also of 10000 tons, has beer
appropriated for.
France has building the Suffern, Col
bert and ca, of 10000 tons each. ailt
has appropriated for the cruiser school
ship Ell.
Italy has building the cruisers Trieste
Trerto. Alberto da Giussano. Alberic'
di Bsrbiano. Bertolomeo Colleoni ant
the GLOW. Della Bande Mere, the frs
two being of 10000 tons each and tn
rest of 5000 tons each In addition
Mussolini has appropriated for tn
Fiume and the cara, both of 10000 ton
each.
Ge~manys naval construction
strictly limited by the Versailles treaty
and so the fatherland now cuts littl
figure in the prevailing inteInationa
uaAal fashion show
How Nations Line Up.
A summing up Of the internationa
cruiser situation shows that, conSiderin
ships of effective age-less than 2
years old-built and building, tn
United States has Is ships of 1890
tons as q grand total, the British En-
pise has Ga of 397.140 tons grand tota
Japan has 80 of 2l3,955 tons, Franc