Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              r
A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Sunday:    Fair,    slowly    rising
temperature. Monday:    Fair.
35TH YEAR, NO. 30-52 PAGES
WILKES-BARRE. PA., SUNDAY, MAY 25, 1941
PRICE TEN CENTS
NAZIS HOLDWESTERN CRETE
Britain's Biggest Warship Is Sunk
DEFENSE PROGRAM FALLING SHORT     Hood Lost   Of Great Battle
\Cerman People Cet First News
Warns
Kennedy on Intervention
Says Wc Can't Stop Revolution in Europe, Asia
FEARS BANKRUPTCY
 J	
Believes U.S. Must Defend Hemisphere; Hits Trade Argument
Atlanta, tJa., May 24. (UP) - Jaxeph P. Kennedy, former am¬ bassador to Great Britain, said to¬ night that the United Stales "can¬ nnt divert the tides of the mighty revolution now .sweeping Asia and Kurope " and that an attempt lo do io wnuld "end in failure and dis¬ grace abroad, in di.sillusionment and bankruptcy at home,"
Kennedy, who in the lajit presi¬ dential campaign uaged a third term for Pre.sident Roosevelt a.s Insurance against war, spoke at commencement exercise at Ogle¬ thorpe University,
He examined and rejected what he said were three arguments for American intervention in the war - (11 danger of military attack by the Axis, '2) the "Crusaders' argu¬ ment." and (3) the threat to our foreign markets.
The United Stales' geographical position 3.000 miles from Europe snd *iOO(k«»il«Ji from Aaia, her pro¬ gram of "all out preparednes.s". and the "precious element of lime" while British resistance continue.s and this nation re-arms, he said, make an attack exceedingly remote. CalU CniMidera .<«illy
The crusaders' argument, Ken¬ nedy said, "is the silliest of all." "I have the fullest conviction." he added, "that few countries of the earth by and large want our kind of democracy democracy cannot   be   imposed   by   force," |
As   for   the   argument   that   "un¬ less we enter the conflict our for¬ eign markets will disappear," Ken¬ nedy said: i "What  a  callous  and  materialis- ¦ tic  argument  for   bloodshed!"
"It   la   nonsense."   he   added,   "to say that an Axis victory spells ruin for  us.   Must  this  country  go  out of business in such an event?   The whole   history   of   American   prog¬ ress belies  such  surrender. , , ,  If worse   comes   to   worse,   we   could gear    ourselves    fo    an    intelligent j self-contained     national     economy j and   still   enjoy   a   fair   degree   of i prosperity."
Kennedy said the war had re¬ vealed "ils true revolutionary char¬ acter" and that this democracy wnuld be able to accomplish more by   precept   than   by   fighting.    He
History's First Air Invasion
Sea       of   .    Candiia
CB0I Ktlm
CRETE
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TURKEY
"^ MALTA.
Bl-
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CYpnus   J
^xandria,
Knudsen and Hillman Point out Shortcomings
I    First Year's Work
Fails to Achieve
*AII-out' Power
(Germany's air invasion of Crete centered about Canea (Ai. south of which is Malemi, where they have their firmest fonlhold. and Candia iBi. Al Canea and Candia the British have morc than   held   their   own,   as   they   have   also   at   Retimo   (Rethyninoi,
Ixi.ver mail shows relation of Crete (21 to (ireek mainland (1>, which is about T.'i miles away: also to fighting zone in Norlh Africa (31   and lo British Cyprus   (4),
fxpecf Draft Officials To Defer Men over 26
Have Authority But Are Seeking Congress Action
Washington, May 24. (UPV i William S. Knudsen and .Sidney Hillman, the two former immi¬ grants to whom President Roose¬ velt entrusted the task of rearm¬ ing the country, said tonight they are dissatisfied with progress du- rine the first yctcr of tbe defense program.
"We h.Tve made a start and pro¬ duction should increase with every month from now on. We are not by an.v means satisfied with the progress   made   to  date,"  Knudsen
S.Tid,
"Summing up this first year of the defense endeavor, it may be said that while a broad founda¬ tion has been laid, nevertheless the all-out participation of our nation'.s entire manpower in the defense effort has yet to Be achieved," Hillman   said.
Next Wednesday will be the first
anniversary of President Roose¬ velt's appointment of the seven- man national defense commission, charged with the task of harnes¬ sing industry to the rearmament program. Since then the defense commission's functions have been transferred to the Office of Pro¬ duction Management, which Knud¬ sen and Hillman head. Billions in Contrarts
Reviewing the first year's ae- complishmenls, Knudsen pointed oiit'ibat: "•-¦        v-i::..-
New industrial facllillea—l,fi2.S projects-have been started by the government, private industry and the British at a total cost of $2,- 840,000,000.
Contracts totalling .1!l,'i,200,000,000 have been placed wilh industry and in   government   arsenal.
"Airplane and engine factories have been planned for the quantity cur President outlined In the origi¬ nal directive," Knudsen continued. "The navy program has been placed in navy and private yards. Mercantile shipbuilding has been (Continued on Page A-11)
With Crew Of 1^1
i    Germany Claims i    Victory in First I    Major Sea Clash
I    SITE DISPUTED
Ma^-ae'Df £>;pJoil'».fl : By 'Unlucky Hit' From New Bismarck
War   l^uiiiiiiarT
Washington,    May    24.     (UP) Congressional circles heard tonight that  .Selective  Service  officials  are preparing  plans to defer men over 26   from   miiilary  service.
Several senators disclosed that the War Deiiartment is anxious lo restrict training of .selectee.s lo those in their earl.v twenties, now that arm.v camps throughout the country have received their initial complements of older men lo con¬ stitute an immediate reserve force.
Brig.    Gen.    Lewis    B,    Hershey. ' deputy   Selective   Servae   director wrote   Speaker   .Sam   Rayburn    re¬ cently urging legislation lo aulhor ize   deferment   bv   age   classes   but [ the   Hou.se   military   affairs   com- ' mittee   has   delayed   action   on   the request. Want ('nngreohinnal Action
Congressional informants .said that Selective Service officials have authority, through admini.strative regulation, to restrict their selec¬ tions to men under 2fi, but prefer congressional sanction of such a move.
Chairman Andrew J, Ma.v, D., Ky. of the House military affairs com-
FOR SOFT COAL
—_j_
Lewis Promises No Strike While Board Is Acting
Washington, May 24. (UP)—The Defense Mediation Board, working desperately to prevent a threatened new walkout of 400,000 miners in the soft coal industry, tonight drafted a selllcmcnl formula which it hopes both sides will accept.
This was revealed b.v Vicc- Chairman William H. Davis after two days of conferences wilh southern mine operators and United Mine Workers' representa¬ tives, headed by John L. Lewis,
"We are preparing a plan of .settlement lo be offered both sides,"
Davis said. "We certainl.v will be mittee, has shown no disposition to engaged in that all day tomorrow begin work on Hershey's proposal, gnj |„to next week." May advocates . military trainiiig j^^ ^^.^ ,^^j j_^^^..^ ,,^^ a.ssured for broad age groups. His vole ^j,^ ^^^^^ jj,^^ j^p ^i„^, ^.^^Ij ,     - ^ „ .    . broke a lie in the committee on the   ^^^  ^^  ^j^^^^  ^^.,,i,p   ^^^^   ^^^^^  i,
favored aid to Great Britain lo give    question   of   accepting   the   Senate-   ,„p()i.,,i„g   the   conlrover.''v this   nation   time   to   complete   her    approved age bracket    21 lo 30, in- ••    r»i     i  «» il
defense program and conceded that    elusive    in   the   Burke-Wardsworth    •"'''"¦  '*"'  ' """  ¦"»••'""'
Act, and the House subsequently Meanwhile, the board sought to voted to include men between 21 | avert stoppage of production on and 4.'i. In conference, a compro- : vital aircraft orders by asking mise range of 21-3.1, inclusive, was approved.
Chairman    Robert   R.    Reynolds, P., N. C, of the Senate miiilary af¬ fairs    commillec    said     "long    and (Continued  on  Page  A-IH
would    affect
a    German    victory
America's   destiny.
Must Defend Hemisphere
"We shall have to fight harder and suffer more for that destiny in an Axis-dominated world." he said, and added that "Axis domination social, economic or military—of any (Continued on Page A-11)
Two Die in Plane Crash After Desperate Battle in Cockpit
¦^
Wichita. Kansas, May 24. (UPl Two youths engaged in a hand- to-hand encounter in the cockpit of a light training plane in midair today in what apparently was an attempt by one to frustrate the suicide plan of the other. The plane crashed and both were killed.
The victims were William David¬ son Woodward, 20-year-old student at Wirhita University, and John Kenneth Blanpied. 21-yeai-old em¬ ployee  of the  Harte  Air Service.
Woodward was a student pilot and had been flying ships owned h.v. the air service company in an effort to obtain a commercial license. But recently he had been forbidden use nf the planes, l.espii onto  Ship
This morning he went to the flying   field,   iumped   into   a   \Vi
trainer        	
"John   Knightly, another
In Today'a lamie
('laa»lfle<t A—ZI
Kdltorial  C—J
Movies  B—•
Politics   C_t
Radio  B_lj
Sports   B—I
S***!*!  A—15
¦to'y A-U
employee of the air service com¬ pany. Without waiting for it to warm up Woodward taxied onto the field for a quick takeoff,
Blanpied ran after him and jumped on a wing. He leaned over into the cockpit and cut the igni¬ tion but Knightly said Woodward switched it on again and managed to take the plane off with one hand while he kept Blanpied away from  the  i ontrols  with  the  other.
Blanpied   then   vaulted   from   hi« precarious    position    on    the   wing inlo the cockpit of the dual-control ship. Goes  Inlo  Dive
Knightly said he could see the two men fighting in the plane for the  controls     Woodward   evidently
wa,' the stronger for t,	
anil   then
"«ent   into a  dive.
It fell several hundred feet when Blanpied apparently wss able to gain control and the ship straight¬ ened oul momentarily at about .V) feet. Bul a second later it dived again and crashei.
"I rould see Ihem fighting for control all the time," Knightly said.
Deputy Sheriff Sam Heidebrecht said he found three "goodbye" notes under the windshii^'d wiper In Woodward's car.
workers at the Inglewood, Calif plant of Norlh American Aviation. Inc., not to strike pending efforts to adjust differences. It ordered a hearing for 10 a.m. Tuesday on the dispute, involving wages, hours and   unon   shop   demands.
Members of the United Automo¬ bile Worker.s iCIOi at the North American plant have voted to strike Mny 28 unless their demands are met. Approximately 11,300 men working on bombers, pursuit and training planes for the army and navy  would   be   affected.
Great Britain's mastery of the sea was challenged forccfull.v Sat¬ urday by Germany with sinking of the mas.sive British battle cruiser. Hood, and indication.s that Nazi air power may be gaining the edge over sea power in the big battle for Crete. Lo.ss of the Hood was the bitterest blow the Royal Navy had suffered .since Jutland and the fir.st major Nazi sea triumph of the war. I Of po.s.sibly greater long-range ' .significance than the lo.ss of the Hood wa.s the battle raging in Crete. F'or the firsl lime the Ger¬ man high command publicly took notice of the battle, rlaiming thai I Nazi air forces had won secure control of the we.steru part of the Island after sma,«hiiig attempts of, the Briti.sh  fleet lo intervene.
The high command communique was lake^ in Berlin as an indica¬ tion of confidence that the Nazis would be able to carry through their unique air-borne invasion lo a victorious completion. There waa little iii.'Brilish official reports to challenge this view. The Bril- ; ish admitted that the (Germans had maintained their strong hold on the important airpori of Malemi and cautioned against optimistic predictions. The British reported, however, that up lo Friday nighl they had managed lo deal success¬ fully with Nazi invaders at Retimo and Candia,
The Germans were believed to have managed lo gel small num- ebrs of troops ashore in Crete from the sea, mostly stragglers from convoys which escaped the ] fierce attacks of the British East- ern Mediterranean Fleet. They also were landing light artillery and mortars which aided Ihem In standing off the British around Malemi. j
The British were offering at leaat j a small challenge to Nazi air con¬ trol by sending over from Egypt long-range fighter planes, appar¬ ently hastily converted bombers, to attack Nazi troop transports and slow-moving Stukas, j
BIsiiiarek AIko Hit
The Hood went down in the frigid | waters between Iceland and Green-' land early Saturday morning under the blazing guns of Germany's crack new battleship, the Sli.OOO-ton Bismarck, Few of the crew sur¬ vived, I
I The British admiralty reported I the Nazi drerfdiiaught was hit and { the German communique admitted as much bul said no consequential damage was inflicted, London said that British naval forces now are pursuing the Bi.«marck but the chances appeared good that the speedy Nazi dreadnaught would escape.
The British have at least J.5 battleships left in service and pos¬ sibly three more of the new King George V class. The Germans have a maximum of four. Chief loss to ! Brilain was in the Hood's speed of 32 knots. It was one of the tew big, fast warships the British had avail¬ able for hunting down German commerce raiders, i What the German battle squa¬ dron was up to in that neighbor¬ hood was not known. The British doubled that the Germans were using the Bismarck as a commerce raider, pointing out that it would be much cheaper and less dan¬ gerous to use cruisers or destroy- . ers  for this  purpose.
However, the Britiiih are known to have been sending large con¬ voys along this route and the con¬ voys may have been escorted by ballleship.s. The Hood may have been engaged in auch dut.v which would explain why a Nazi battle¬ ship might be sent in for a raid. Old Xaval Argument
The sinking of the Hood by the Bi,smarck may add it.s weight of evidence in the long-.slanding naval argument concerning the practic- : ality of the battle cruLser, The ¦ battle cruiser is fundamentally a battleship in which some armor is aacrificed for greater speed. It has been  an ill-fated class.
At Jutland, the la.sl occasion in which battleships and battle cruis¬ ers fought a major engagement, four of the five capILIl ships lost were battle cruisers. Only one was a battleship. The British lo.sl three battle crui.sers at Jutland, the .Ger¬ man one. Among them waa al In¬ vincible, commanded by Admiral \ Hood for whom the battle cruiser lo.st today was named, |
Bul the British thought that the le.saons of Jutland had been built into the Hood, That waa the chief reaaon for her great weight - added armor plale designed lo prevent an¬ other debacle.
British Smash Again at Italians in Ethiopia
LONE GERMAN RAIDER APPEARS OVER ENGLAND
London,   May 2.'^  (Sunday).   (UP) ;
A lone German raider was re¬ ported to liave dropped high ex¬ plosives on a town in Southwest Kngland early today and several persons were said to have been trapped   in   bombed   buildings.
How Belligerents Fared at Sea
Officially conlirnied nav al losses In 21  month.s of the war:
By Great Britain—2 battleships. 2 aircraft larriers, ."i cruisers, 13 auxiliary cruisers, 43 destroyers, 2.1 submarines, 161 auxiliary ves¬ sels (mine - .sweepers, trawler*, patrol-boats,  etc.)
By tierniany 1 pocket battle¬ ship, 10 destroyers. 17 submarines. 4 torpedo boats, S(\ auxiliary ves¬ sels.
By |tal,i—;i cruisers, 10 destroy¬ ers. 12 submarines, 6 torpedo boats, 7 auxiliary vessels.
Cairo, May 24. (UP)--iBritish Im¬ perial forces smashed Into the Fascial stronghold of Soddu in Ethiopia, general headquarters said today, afler severe fighting in which hundreds of Italian prisoners and much war equipment were taken.
The operations in Ethiopia, which included occupation of Uondo and capture of SOO more Italian pria- pnera there, coincided wilh further patrol fighting on the Libyan bor¬ der and with British efforUs to set up a new Arab regime in Iraq aa a rival to Ihe iiro-Axis t^ jji^ji^m^)mmr^^m.ininni. There waa comparatively little military action, however, either in Iraq or Libya. Italians  Separated
In Ethiopia, Sudan defense troops oprating in the Gondar area, where Italians have held out since the surrender of their com¬ mander, the Duke of Aosta, re¬ pulsed a Fascist counter-attack on a ridge near Chelga, while further south the "Battle of the Lakes" was pressed by the British with the occupation of .Soddu. Tu-o Italian divisions i probably 20,000 meni were surrounded in the Soddu aector.
>
I "In addition, other Important enemy forces to the west of the lakes now are separated," the communique   said.
Reports received in Cairo said that Abdul Illah, who was ousted as regent of Iraq by the present pro-Axis government headed by Rashid Ali Al Gailani, had returned to Iraq where he was considering formation of a government opposed to the Baghdad  regime.
Iraq  Premier's Family   In   Turkey
1,1 '     1 ne families   o     Iraq   Premier   Rashid Ali   Al   Gailani   and   Defense   Min¬ ister   Naji   .Shawkel   arrived   here I by train  from Baghdad today.
Beirut, Syria, May 24 (UP) The Royal Air Force was reported to¬ night to have carried out fresh bombing attacks on the important Syrian airdromes at Allepo and Damascus.
According lo the Iraqui commu¬ nique issued at Baghdad, the Brit¬ ish again raided Baghdad's air- | drome while the Iraqui air force | blasted at Habanniya. Skirmishes between armored car patrols were reported. .^   '
By WALLACE CARROLL
London, May 24, (UP)- The Admiralty tonight announced its most aerioua lo.sa .since the Battle of Jutland, the blowing up of the , world's mightiest dreadnaught, the 42,100-ton Hood, in a battle off , Greenland wilh the (ierman battle¬ ship Bi.smarck, 3.'),000 ton.s.
The   lo.ss   of   the   Royal   Navy'.s
' pride, queen  of the seaa aince her
completion   In  1920.  was   due  lo an
I "unlucky hit" which penetrated the
powder   chamber    ot   the    ma.saive
I steel  fortress  and  sent  her  to  the
I bottom with the loas of virtually all
her 1.341  officera and men.
The admiralty's grim communi¬ que furnished few details of the action fought high in the icrbcrg- ridden .seas off Greenland on the outskirts or pos.sibl.v even within the limits of the American neu¬ trality patrol zone, ¦ Bul the Bismarck, the admiralty ' .said, also was hit and even now is being pursued by other units of the fleet who.se while eii.sign has for a century signified lordship of the open .seas.
The loss of the Hood was the cruelest blow the British fleet has suffered in the war. It cost Britain her aecond capital ship since start of hostilities hut left her with l.'i , capital ships afloat and possibly others of the new King George V class of dreadnaughts. if tliey have gone into aclion with the two forniall.v announced as in service. Gernian Boast Fiillilled
Ironicallv enough the Goliath of the British Nav.v went down al the hands of the very warship whicii Gernian propagandists had pioclaimed would dethrone her as the  mightiest warship aflo.it.
The battle brought face to fare two of the heaviest ships ever to duel at sea each caimblc of hurl¬ ing a seven-ton broadside from batteries of eight l.''i-incli guns. But the Bismarck was 1!) years younger than the Hood and probably fought on belter than even terms despite the Hood's edge in weight of 7.01)1) tons.
The Bismarck, it was admitted, had the benefit of late improve¬ ments in hardened steel and in¬ crea.sed   gun    firepower,
Britons, while grieving the Hood's j loss, look some comfort from the ' fact that the new King George V j battleships are now In service and ' also from Britain's present margin ! In battleships—she having 15 loi Germany's known  four.
But there was considerable spe¬ culation as to the purpo.se of the (ierman battle squadron in ranging xo far west ns the Greenland nrcn. It was noted by naval experts that use of battleships for commerce raiding Is extremely wasteful he- ; cause each capital ship requires .¦x substantial escort of smaller war- craft.
Some British suggested, half humorously but with a tinge of seriousness, that pos.sibly the Ger¬ mans "have decided to protect Greenland against United States aggression." '
The admiralty reported that the Hood, carrying the flag of Vice Admiral L. E. Holland, intercepted a German naval force, apparently headed by the Bismarck, and gave battle. Second  Capital Ship Lost
The Hood was the second dread¬ naught   lost   by   Britain   since   the start   of   the   war.    The   first  was the   Royal   Oak,   an   ancient   pre- (Continued on Page  A-10)
Admiral Lost With the Hood
Vice Admiral Laiuelot Erne.st Holland,   in   «   striking   11
'uflieved Satui ¦ day night to have perislicd on th» HMS Hood in the same man¬ ner as did Admiral Horace Hood, for whom tlic mighty dread¬ naught was  named.
The Hood, in combat oft Green¬ land with the (Jcrman battleship Bismarck, was blown up by an "unlucky hit in the magazine." The Invincible, flying the flag of Admiral Hood in the Battle of .lutland, was sunk in the last war by a hit   in  the  magazine.
Holland had been a rear ad¬ miral in the second battle squad¬ ron since 1!»3!>. He was assistant chief of naval staff in 1!)37-19.3«. In 1!>,30-1!131. he headed a naval mission to Greece.
Fanfare of Trumpets Brings Germany Forecast of Spectacular Victory; Heaviest Dive-Bombing Attack Known Poured on British Defenders of Isle; Third I\azi Divi.sion Thought on M ay With Critical Weekend Fsow at Hand
By JOSKPH W. GRKiG jr.
Kcilin, May 2i (IT)—The Nazi hiRh command .signif¬ icantly bi'okc a four-day siloncp late today to claim that German air troops have «on control of Western Crete after the Luftwaffe smashed attempts hy the Royal .Navy to inter¬ vene and drove the Royal .\ir Force from the skies ahove
4h<' ^.^ ¦i«W.4-»J«.!.i.t!, . - -        .   «...  	
The significance of the announcement lay in the fact that the hJRh command customarii.x refrains from reporting any campaign until operations have progressed sufficiently to assure a favorable outcome.
For foui' (la,\.s the (leiiiian public liad rrmained in ignor¬ ance of the iinprecodonted air attack whicii tlie Wehrmacht had launched aRain.sl the ke,\' Hrili.~h ])ositinns in Crete,  For
ifour da.ws hiph command communi(iiics had nnt mentioned the attack be.xond what might he infern^d from reports nf unpi'ocedenlcd   .succe.s.scs   hv   the   Luftwaffe   against   the Hi'ili.sh fleet. Make Dramatic Announcement
I On Wedne.sday, the foreign press was told that Nazi
parachuti.<;ts had landed upon Crete, captured a number of imiioi'tant point.s and \xpip prix-eeding with operations accord-
: ing to plan.
1 Hut   thi.s   statciiiPiit   wa.s   not   pulili.'-hrd   in   (lerniany
although, it can now be rcvoaled, il had been nriginall,\' in-
I tended to release the announcement to the German public.
' For .some unrevealod reason the statement was not published.
I.ate this afternoon the official Nazi radio .svstem told
listeners to sland-l).\' for an important special announcement^
A   little   after  4:30  p.   m.   regular' .77  ^
German radio programs were inter-   when  and  If  a  Nazi  invasion  at-
nipted wilh a fanfare of trumpets such as proceeds all Nazi victory announcements. The high i oiii- mand's special communique was then read and the broadcast con- iluded wilh the singing of the Ko. 1 German war song, "We Are Sailing Againsi Kngland,"
It was thought most unlikely that the announcement would have been made afler the lengthy delay un¬ less the high coiiiniaiid had com¬ plete confidence in flnal outcome of the allack.
The communique reported that (JcrniHii parachutist and air-borne troops, having been strengthened by reinforcements, now have un¬ dertaken an "offensive" against Crete's Britiah and Greek defen¬ ders and that operations are pro¬ gressing according to plan. Say Fleet Blocked
Attempts by the Britisii fleet to intervene, it was asserted, have been smashed by the Luftwaffe which sank a large number of warships after gaining command of the air.
Despite official denials in Ber¬ lin, il was believed in non-official quarters here that the operations In Crete constitute, In effect, a dress rehearsal of methods which will   be   employed   againsi   Britain '
tempi  is made.
The number of Britisii troops de¬ fending (^rele is not known herf but il ia believed that they maj amount to two or three divLsions possibly ,30.000 to 4S.000 men. How¬ ever, tliey are not thought to havi much   heav.v   equipment
The high rommand gave no de- taii.s of Ihe fighting hut. accordmj to unofficial sources, (Candia hai heen in Gernian hands since short¬ ly after start of the attack.
May Decide Hottle Ne.xt -JS Hours
By  KOWARn \\. BKATTIE JR.
London. May 24. HJTi Britain s defenders of Crete tonight fared a critical week-end test afler inflict¬ ing "most heavy casualties" on Nazi air invaders and destroying with the aid of air assistance from Kgypt. great numbers of German aerial   troop  transports.
Military experts believed that the next 48 hours w ould disclose whether the British and th»'i' Greek allies can dislodge the Nazi.s from the important foothold they now have at Malemi, just south¬ west of Canea, or wiieth?r the Germans ignoring losses already estimated nt lO.OOO men will slow- (Contlnued   on   Page  A-2)
Sacrifice of Armor for Speed Cost the Hood
By  RKAR  ADMIRAL  YATK.S STIRLING  Jr   (ISN  Retired) Inlfed Press Naval Critic
The naval engagement in which the British lost their great battle cruiser Hood, the largest lapilal ship known lo be afloat, demon¬ strates the weakness of speedy battle cruisers in which armored protection is sacrificed to mobility.
The blowing up of the Hood sounds very much like a turret casuall.v. The armor on the Hood ia lonsiderably le.ss than that on battleships of the Nelson and Rod¬ ney class. The Hood had an armor beit of 12 inches against the Nel¬ son's 14. The Hood had 12-inch bar¬ bettes, or protective gun shielding, as against the Nelson's 1,1, and from II to l.'i Inches on gun turrets against the maximum of 18 on the Nelson. Couldn't  WIthstuid Sheila
Th? Hood, to attain her great ¦peed of 32 knots, and with eight 1,'5-lnch guns only one less than the Nelson was forced to sacri¬ fice weight  and armor,  and there-
pait of l,S-lnch shells as well as the .N'elson class. It seems to have been a case of over-armament and under-armor.
In the battle of Jutland, the Queen Mary, also a battle cruiser, was blown up by shell penetration through the armor of her gun tur¬ rets, igniting the powder there and permitting the fire lo flash down to the handling room and maga¬ zines. The same thing may have happened to the Hood.
There lies the weakness of battle cruisers. Their magazines are not sufficiently  protected  by armor.
The composition of thr two fleets which engaged in this latest bat¬ tle is of course, a military secret. It   mai'   hava   been   tht   greatest
direct engagement between British and German ships since the Bat¬ tle of Jutland in the Wnrld War- in other words, a hold German stroke al Britain's command of the   seas.
In any event, naval men are apt to wonder whether the well-armor¬ ed ships of the King tJeorge V, class, newly put on the seas, were part of the engagement Other¬ wise, there could be some doubt that the British squadron, after the loss of the Hood, Is strong enough lo bring the German fleet to decisive action. Hard Task fnr British
The British announcement said the Britiah squadron Is now pur¬ suing the Germans. If that is true, the Nazi fleet would be on the run afler an extraordinarily successful coup. However, unless the two ships of the King George V claas are in artion. or can be sent out as reinforcements, the British squadron may have a real task   on   its   hands.
The Germans report that the Bismarck was part of their aquad- ron^rM^^j^^^j^j(J^j^^^^cryv^t.«^^ Trn^'^^ii'f^Siiicethe^Gerri^n s r« fer to ll as a "squadron." it prob¬ ably consisted not only of the Bismarck, bul of Germany's two remaining porhet battleships, aome destroyers h d submarines, and possibly the battle cruisers Scham- liorst and Gneisenau, provided the latter have not beeu put out of action by bombings on the harbor of Brest, as the Royal Air Force has claimed. ^ ^^
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