PLANES IN WARFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 107, 2 November 1926, Page 9

PLANES IN WARFARE

IMPORTANCE OF NEW ARM

THE AMERICAN NAVY,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN JfRANCISCO, 3rd October.

Some pertinent comment on naval policy, the use of the battleship in future warfare, and the control of the air force, fell from the lips of Admiral Moffett, on witnessing the first aerial parade of tho United States battle fleet at sea off the Pacific coast—a thrilling two-days' spectacle, which left both units much impressed with the progress that has been made by the navy in aviation during the past two

years. ■'The battleship is the backbone of the fleet," said Admiral Moft'ett. "Every other arm of the fleet works to aid the battleship in its mission. I think what I have seen proves that the air force has become the most vital of all these arms.

"We have 'planes for bombing enemy surface craft, 'planes for spotting, scouting, and observation, and fighting 'planes to protect our observation squadrons, as well as to fight off enemy 'planes harass enemy surface craft. We arc now ready to place three-passenger observation 'planes on all battleships, in addition to fighting 'planes for their protection. The battleship in itself has become an aircraft carrier.

"What I saw conclusively proves the fallacy of the unified air service idea. Everyone of these pilots must be an experienced sailor, otherwise he could not read the strength of the enemy, nor could he give to the fleet information useful to our gunners and navigators. "We hold the upper hand to-day m naval aviation, thanks to the foresight of outofficers, who, as long ago as 1912, were experimenting with the launching catapult. We have come a long ,way since then, but we have still a long way to go." The Assistant Secretary of the Wavy ior Aviation, Mr. Edward P. Warner, said: "I do not think that the aeroplane is going to supplant the battleship, or endanger its future or that o£ any arm of the service. It is merely that command of the air is going to be of the utmost importance in any future naval warfare." 'Planes of every type, size, and speed took part: Curtis hawks and Boeing pursuits, Loening amphibians, and P/N. flying boats, T.S. fighters and U.O. scouts. Sixty surface craft—battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and auxiliaries were in action over a wide battlo front. In fifteen minutes two complete squadrons of 'planes were catapulted from battleships and were in the air. All were picked up after the manoeuvre, with only one minor casualty. Radio advices that torpedo 'planes were approaching were immediately followed by'the sudden formation across the entire horizon of a whito curtain of smoke, a chemical dropped by the torpedo 'planes. At night destroyer squadrons succeeded in locating the battleship squadron for a torpedo attack without being observed.