The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1923. NAVAL QUESTIONS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1418, 20 October 1923, Page 4

The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1923. NAVAL QUESTIONS.

A RECENT cablegram stated that ex-Admiral Sir Percy Scott and Admiral Sturdee had crossed swords at a recent meeting of the United Service Association on the question of what class of ships are most useful under the present conditions of naval warfare. It wi'll carry much weight with those who have to decide the matter that Admiral Sturdee speaks as one who bore a distinguished part in the Great War. Admiral Sturdee will always be remembered for his part in the battle of Falkland Island. On November Ist, 1914, RearAdmiral Cradock suffered defeat off the coast of Chile, but on December Bth accounts were squared, Admiral Sturdee sinking all but one of the ] German squadron. Ex-Admiral Sir ) Percy Scott speaks more on the J basis of a great gunnery expert and ! to some extent a theorist as to the use even of his own valuable inventions. He had a distinguished career in the Navy. He was made a baronet in 1913 and retired, then being nearly sixty years of age. He did much to improve the gunnery of the fleet. During the war (1915-16) he was placed in charge of the air defences of London. Much press controversy proceeded during the latter months of 1920 and the earlier months of 1921 as to the expediency of laying down new large ships for the British Navy. Sir Percy Scott and many followers maintaining that the clay of the battleship was over and that the future would be with the submarine and the torpedo-carrying aircraft. Since then opinion has again oscillated towards the capital ship. The K class of submarine was a huge monster with 10,000 horse power for surface propulsion at 24 knots and electrical power for use when submerged down to 300 feet at nine knots with a displacement submerged, of 2650 tons. The loss of K 5 at exercise, it is thought from descending to too great a depth, stopped the increase, and perhaps the total use of the K class. Eleven vessels of this class were on the active list last year. The new base at Singapore is necessary if the capital ship is to keep its place in the navy; and it would appear as if the Admiralty had decided to stand by the capital ship, with reasonable cooperation with the submarine and airship.