Evening star., 1939-11-16
Delay in Cruisers
indicates U. 5. Feels
Treaties Are Ended
Possible Revision in
Design Seen to Meet
Pocket Ship Menace
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.


talitarian powers, were seen today
in the Navy Departments restudy
of plans for the new cruisers Co.
lumbia and Cleveland.
At the same time, Senator Wheel
er, Democrat, Of Montana demanded
d congressional investigation to
place responsibility for construction
Of "topheavy" destroyers for the
Navy. Senator Wheeler declared
he could see mo excuse whatever
for thing of this kind happening"
and thought the facts should be
laid before Congress before addi-
tional defense appropriations are
voted.
The Navy Department has &C
that some of the newest
type destroyers, under certain con-
ditions of sea and maneuvering,
were not as stable as the Navy
would like to have them, but an
nounced that notifications were
being made which would correct
the trouble.
Center of Gravity Lowered.
The changes include shifting am
munition stowage space to a lower
point in the hold, lowering the CEN
ter line. of torpedo tubes and using
lighter furnishings and equipment
topside, it was explained.
Acting Secretary of the Navy
Edison, in a press conference yes
terday, said of the new destroyers:
They are eminently satisfactory, as
good as we or anybody else has got
They are at sea in all kinds of rough
weather in the neutrality patrol and
none has turned over"
Senator Wheeler, however, said
he has been reliably informed
that it is extremely difficult, if not
impossible, ever to remodel top
heavy ship, even at great expense,
so that it will thereafter perform
satisfactorily" If Government per-
sonnel is responsible, he said. repri-
mands and dismissals should follow;
If the shipbuilders are at fault,
"they ought to be made to pay dam
ages"
Treaty Limit OFF Now.
Mr.. Edison announced that con-
struction Of the two cruisers is being
delayed for a possible revision OF
design to meet the menace of the
German pocket battleship" type.
Under treaty limitations American
cruiser design has been restricted
to 5000 and 10000 ton sizes. Asked
point blank whether these limita-
tions would apply if it is decided
to change the design of the new
cruisers to enable them to meet such
powerful opponents as the German
10000-ton battleships, the Acting
Secretary declared emphatically
that there will be mo limit on size. >
Coupled with the decision of the
United States to go from the treaty
limitation of 5000 tons on capital
vessels to the $4,000 tons of the two
giant new battleships now under
construction, Mr.. Edison's statement
is regarded as an indication that
the United States no longer feels
itself bound by treaty limitations
which are being ignored by other
powers.
Would Match German Raiders.
Although he indicated that the
Columbia and Cleveland may be OF
heavier tonnage and different de-
sign from other American cruisers,
Mr.. Edison said the question of
their design still is in the hands of
the Navy General Board. The board
he said, is considering a type of
design which would make the new
cruisers a match for such vessels
as the German Deutschland and
Admiral Scheer, which now are
thought to be on the high seas,
supposedly in the role of commerce
raiders.
Should they be fitted to cope with
the German type of ship, which
combines guns of near battleship
caiber with cruiser speed, the Co.
lumbia and Cleveland would have
to be of type entirely new to the
United States Navy, approximating
in capacity the battle cruisers OF
Great Britain and France, though
undoubtedly on a smaller scale
The British battle cruisers are the
worlds largest warships today.
U. S. Has No Such Vessels.
AS it stands, there are in the Brit
ish and French navies only five
vessels suitable for use In the at
tempt to run down and destroy the
German pocket battleships. The
United States Navy has no vessels
except its battleships, which coulo
stand up ship to ship against the
Germans with any hope of success
Our Navy at one time was build
ing vessels which would have out.
matched the German pocket vessels
in both speed and weight of guns
These were the battle cruisers Lex
ington and Saratoga. They were
sacrificed to treaty limitations, how.
ever, when well along under con.
struction and were converted int<
aircraft carriers and never have
been regarded as wholly satisfactory
for the purpose.
While Mr.. Edison indicated that
the Navy Department does not re.
gard the German pocket battleshir
as a serious threat, he indicated
that it is considered of SUFFICIENT
Importance as a new type of nava.
vessel to warrant the most careful
study of its possible effects on