Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09

BATTLE sHirs--A RAN VITA 4 fusfLs aAdx
WHICH now xxIsrs ON rArss
The board OF commodorss. constituting the
construction and designing body Of the navy,
is at present engaged upon . consideration OF
the plans for the torpedo cruiser or torpedo
chaser for which provision was made In the
recent naval appropriation bill This vessel ID
to DO novelty a. far a. tho American navy ID
concerned, her nearest prototype being tho
'esuvius ~ regards size. shape and speed.
She will practically have no rival, for tho pres
ent ut least. She Ii virtually TO be an over
sized torpedo boat Of tho protected type, fitted
with torpedo tubes and an offensive gun bat
terry and is designed primarily to attack the
small torpedo boats Of the Cushing class.
HER PROBABLE DIMENSIONS.
There il as yet no definite conclusion reached
as to the dimensions and general charasteris-
tics of this vessel, although those figures are
quite likely to be adopted: Length, 26O feet;
breadth. 26 feet; draught, 8 feet; speed, %
knots; horse power, 5000. She will probably
be fitted with coil boilers and will cost about
$35O,OOO. She will differ from the vesuvius in
this material point: that she will have a greater
range OF action in possessing high-power pow
der guns OF a practically universal range.
whereas the dynamite cruiser il hindered in
her scope Of operations by the ixation Of her
three pneumatic guns, which can only be
trained by the movements of the ship.
NEW TORPEDO BOAT.
There is also to be one additional torpedo
boat built Of the Cushing class. the appropria-
ton for this purpose being s125OOO 1t is
thought likely that the contractors for the
Gushing, the Herreschoff Company will be
asked to duplicate that remarkable little yes-
se flo 20
lessen the vast amount Of machinery which she
carries in order to give more room below.
-FOUR BIG SHIPS.
1t is expected that the bidding on the four
new big ships, the three great battle ships and
the three-screw cruiser, which is to take place
October l, will be quite spirited as those old
rivals, the Cramps Of Philadelphia and the
Union Iron Works Of San Francisco, declare
their discrimination to oppose each other again.
Some naval authorities are of the opinion that
bidders will be more eager for the swift
cruiser than for the battle ships on ac-
count of the opportunity offered by
the three screws to make large
premiums, but as the requirements as to speed
are to be very high-twenty-two knots-the
risks are great On the other hand there are
some who believe that the battle ships will be
sought after with the greater avidity on &C.
count OF the very novelty Of the three-screw
plan, which is yet to be demonstrated a sue
cess. The appropriation for the battle ships is
100000, or S4.0O0,0OO for each vessel, and
that Tor the cruiser, which some one in the de-
partment has. for the, lack Of better name
than number. duffed the Pirate" is %, $780,
100, each exclusive OF armament.
MAY BID ON A BATTLE SHIP.
There is rumor that the Bath Iron Works,
which is now building the two 1,0OO-ton gun
boats, intends to bid on one battle ship. the
facilities and tool plants having been lately
enlarged with this view.
SHIPS ON THE WAYS
Work on the Maine and the Cruiser Number
Seven at the New York yard is progressing we'll.
Tho Maine is in 80 advanced a state Of con-
structiOn that her launching is expected to
take place by the LIST of November next. The
other vessel will probably be launched some
time next summer. The two ships correspond
Ing to these. being built by the government at
norfolk, the Texas and Cruiser Number Eight,
are not going ahead 80 rapidly Work on them
has almost come to u standstill, owing to the
absence OF the constructor in charge i'll Europe
on leave and some trouble that has been had of
late with the stern post Of the Texas. 1t will
probably be year yet before the Texas il
ready to go off the ways.
TURTLED-BACKED RAM.
There il another vessel undergoing the pro-
cess OF paper preparations in the Navy Depart
ment, the Ammen Ram, or Turtle, az she is
facetiously called. She is to be very peculiar
craft, with sloping back, the edge Of which
goes under the water line. Her prov will be
In the shape of ramming beak and she will
be provided with heavy gun and one or two
torpedo tubes. Her plans are nearing the
stage OF readiness that justites advertisement
but there is some doubt being expressed as to
whether she will ever be built. There are
some officers who believe she will suffer the
fate Of the John Thomas" as the ship designed
by ex-COngressman Thomas was called and
which now gathers dust as paper roll in the
mortuary chambers Of the Navy Department