WHEN THE NAVY MAKES WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 10

WHEN THE NAVY MAKES WAR

DEATH FROM THE SKIES High in the tropical, sky an aeroplane hangs motionless like a bird of prey. Suddenly it drops from its height of 12,000 ft, striking seaward at the rate of 300 miles an hour. Its target is an aero-plane-carrier heavily stacked with aeroplanes. , The diving aeroplane is an American bomber carrying jj, 10001 b bomb, twice the weight of those carried by the usual two-seater. The carrier reels beneath the force of the explosion, and suffers terrible damage as the bomb hits it. All around the mimic war is in progress. To the north-west 90 aeroplanes are sweeping over transports surrounded by an imposing array of battleships. To the south-west more aeroplanes are crippling another convoy, writes W. F. Birllack, the New York journalist. The day had begun with a single aeroplane rising to the sky as dawn broke over the green jungles of Panama and flooded the still waters of the Pacific with splendid light. Moving upwards aud out of sight in the morning light the aeroplane symbolised the new era of naval warfare.

The tiny aeroplane was a unit in the “ Blue ” fleet of the United States Navy engaged in mimic warfare against the “ Black ” fleet, supposedly the force of a Pacific Power bent on destroying the Panama Canal and the yet-to-be-built Nicaraguan Canal. The manoeuvres sought to learn the relative" importance of naval craft—battleships, cruisers, destroyers, aircraft-carriers, submarines, and dirigibles. The “Blue" admiral was successful. His aeroplanes found and bombed the enemy and fought a lively guerilla warfare, while the “ Black ” admiral maintained a losing battle for four days. Out' of this mimic war emerge certain theories which may change the strategy and tactics of future naval wars.

First, the aeroplane proved its worth; without the light, swift, death-dealing weapon of the air the “ Blue ” admiral could not have prevented the weighty " Black ” armada from destroying the canal defences.

Secondly, the battleship is regarded by high authorities as still the backbone of the navy. Aeroplanes might destroy the convoy and hold command of.- the air, but they could not win the sea against the richly armour-plated battleship. The “ Blue ” admiral won because he commanded a swift, mobile machine of cruisers, destroyers, aircraft-carriers submarines, and aeroplanes able to remain at sea without refuelling. But the airship problem is not yet solved. The new navy dirigible, the Akron will carry five fighting aeroplanes. These, it is hoped, will defend the airship against its midget enemies the aeroplanes; further, that her great speed will enable her to flee down the wind and, like the Olympian god. take refuge in a cloud.

General Sir lan Hamilton had a word or two to say on the subject of neckties when lie spoke lately as the guest of the City Business Chib in Glasgow. “ The' first thing I have to do every morning after clearing my head by shaving my chin, is to turn to a drawer full of neckties,” he said. “My whole day, perhaps my whole future, will depend upon which necktie I select. There is the Wellington College school tie and the Highland Brigade tie, which I shall wear when I go to Gleneagles for next week-end to stay with the 51st Highland Division. Then there is the Gordon Highlanders’ tie I wear at Aberdeen when I go, as 1 did ten days ago, to inspect my regimental depot. Again, there is the British Legion of Scotland tie—a very fashionable article, brand new', just approved by the National Ex-ecutive Council of Scotland sitting in Edinburgh. And last, but not least, is the British Legion Headquarters tie.”