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Show oo WHEN THE BIG FLEETS MEET. When the German fleet comes out, v. hat will happen? Many have asked this question, and, J. M Oskison, a naval expert, attempts an answer In an article in one of the magazines, in which he says: A modern navy does not exist to be saved for exhibition purposes after thr war is over; its job is to fight the enemy for mastery of the sea. Staying Stay-ing in port is demoralizing to the personnel per-sonnel In time of war. This the commander com-mander of the blockaded fleot knows, and he knows, too. that his enemy who Is maintaining the blockade is getting first rate daily practice in handling ships, and hardening and tempering crtvs out where the fighting fight-ing will occur. So the Germans at some time may be expected out; and without trying to prophesy in detail it Is possible to explain the general aspects of what naval experience would teach us to expect would then happen. The Ger mans will come several hours before dawn, for when the fight begins they want to be quite clear of the pore with sea room in which to maneuver. Before being discovered by the Eng lish scouts, the German fleet would probably be able to pass the clear ' zone maintained by the opposing sub marines and destroyers. Once beyond that, however, the English scouts would sight it. Then would begin the first contest that between the wireless operators aboard the two fleets. On board the first scout to sight the German fleet, the operator would begin to call tht? English admiral's ad-miral's flagBhlp! and at the same time, operators on board the German ships would be trying desperately to synchronize their apparatus and "muss up" the scout's message so that it could not be understood. There would be better than an even chance that the German wireless could successfully interfere In that case, the scout would fly at its high est speed to the nearest tender carrying car-rying an aeroplane Off would wing an air scout, but knowing that hostile hos-tile air scouts would likely be aloft and that In thick weather the flying machine cannot be sure of finding Its way, the fastest of the scout ships would press on Other scouts would hurry forward to observe the strength, disposition, and direction of the German fleet; aboard them would be men trained to recognize, from long study of plans and silhouettes, every ship in I the enemy's fleet, aboard the English fieet commander's Flagship would be his staff, whose members know the efficiency in speed, armament, and personnel of every ship in the German Ger-man fleet They would have charteu and platted every possible battleground. battle-ground. As his scouts brought htm news of the progress of the issuing fleet, the English admiral in command would mark its location on his chart and stud its formation in reference to his own plan of attack. Once beyond the clear zone the German Ger-man fleet commander would change from cruising formation (scouts ahead, fighting ships in double column, col-umn, cruisers and destroyers alonp side, and tenders, service ships, and hospltnl ehlps behind, each convoyed by more destroyers and swift cruisers) cruis-ers) to column, or "line ahead," as the English call accepted battle formation. for-mation. One behind the other, as closely as they may safely be navigated navi-gated (probably not more than 400 yards from bow to bow) would steam the fighting ships. |