“THE KEY TO POWER”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12076, 2 March 1925, Page 7

“THE KEY TO POWER”

AIR SUPREMACY WILL DECIDE THE NEXT WAR AMERICAN ADMIRAL SIMS HAS NS DOUBTS AEROPLANE-CARRIERS WILL BE CAPITAL SHIPS i ■■ RACE FOR ARMAMENTS CONTINUES

Rear-Admiral Sims, who commanded the-. United .States naval forces in European waters from April, 1917, until 1919, and has since retired, contributed an unequivocal opinion to the aircraft versus battleship controversy which is now agitating the United States.

“Aircraft,” he declared, “will hold the key to power in the next war. No fleet can operate successfully against a Power in control of the air.

“The capital ship of the future will be the airplane ' carrier.”

Despite the Washington future will be the aeroplane ments continues, declared Admiral Sims.

“BACKBONE OF THE FLEET HAB BEEN BROKEN”

Br Teleeraiuh.—Bress Assn.--Copmaht. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 1, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 28. Rear-Admiral Sims (retired), who was commander of- the American Atlantic Fleet during the war, gave characteristic, blunt testimony before the Aircraft Committee of the House of Representatives. He said he agreed with General Mitchell that the United States air forces should be increased, but he opposed th# plan for unification of Hie army, and navy air services, claiming that it was necessary that airmen operating with thenavy should be trained naval officers. In urging the creation of a large force of airplanes for the Panama Canal zone. Admiral Sms said an .adequate force would ensure the zone from air attach, and-defeat attempts to land troops. It could also blow up an approaching enemy fleet. “Aircraft/’ he declared, “will hold the key to power in the next war. No fleet ran operate successfully againsji a Power in control of the air.” -

He declared that' the 1931 bombing tents showed conclusively that modern vessels could be put out of commission by air bombing/ ‘ f ; The airplane, he said, was the outstanding war weapon’ to-day. “'When two fleets meet at sea, the one with the largest air force will triumph, «s it can destroy the other’s air force, and then bomb the ships at will.” ’ Admiral Sims criticised the report of the Nayv Board, which placed the battleship, above the airplane. He said: “I am not much impressed by that report. The day after it eras issued, the Secretary for the Navy said he heartily agreed with it. , The . opinion of the Secretary for the 'Navy on a highly technical matter like'this is not mdch.”

.Questioned regarding ; his naval experiences, Admiral Sims said: ' “My services' consisted mainly of getting into trouble with the principal dignitaries. Many of my, reports were burned, by'order of the Navy -Department. I gained the reputation of being the best Admiral in the British Navy. I received little aid-from Washington -during tbe first months of my command of the Atlantic fleet. When I told them the truth about'England’s dire condition they did: not believe me.’’ ‘

Representative Perkins (chairman of the committee): Dos’ you believe the battleship is the backbone of the fleet?

Admiral Sims: Yes; bnt I believe it has been broken. The capital ship of. the future will be tbe airplane-carrier. Regarding the Pacific, Admiral Sima said: “Our position there is unfortunate. We would be absolutely hamstrung without a Pacific naval base. It is absolutely essential that the line of communication he kept open, but if Guam were Seised, we could not go to tbe Philippine* until we recaptured it. We could not go there so long as another Power held jt, as our whole line of communication would be left open'to attack.’’ He criticised the United States for agreeing at the Washington Conference not to fortify Guam. The Admiral declared that, despite the Washington Conference, the race for armaments was continuing, and he said: “Britain has fifty cruisers, and Japan thirty built or building, japan laid down eighty thousand tons of submarines since the war.” “VIOLATION OF ORDERS” GENERAL MITCHELL’S ARTICLES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 1, ll.b f>.m.) WASHINGTON, February 28. Mr J. W. Weeks, Secretary for War, giving evidence before tbe Aircraft Committee, declared General Mitchell had violated the orders of President Coolidge and the War Department when, he prepared articles for publication .Without first ' submitting them to the department for approval. Mr Weeks denied that tbe department had attempted to silence General kfiteball. He also denied that he told General Mitchell he would he transferred to a remote place, or forced to resign. Neither tbe President nor he had the power to force General Mitchell to resign..' ’ Ho admitted that General Mitchell was thebesUinfarmed officer in the War Department regarding aviation- - He also agreed that there-is a shortage of ’planes. -

The inquiry is nearing its .clow,