Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-05
Youths Companion, November nth.

|
Youths Companion, November nth.
The United States Navy is growing
| apace, as the vessols whose construc-
tion mas been authorized by Congress
during the last few years are launched,
tested and put in commission. The
White Squadron OF cruisers whose
appearance has given go much satisfac
tion to patriotic Americana, WAS the
| precursor Of vessels of etiIl more for
midable type. Among The latest eddi-
tions 10 Tho navy arc battleships of the
hrst and second-class, armored cruisers,
gunboats and the unique and powerful
ram, Katahdin.
Tho official trial of the Indiana.
which took place October 18th, was Of
| moro than ordinary interest, because
the indiana ie the first battleship Of
the hrst-class built in this country. I
and is regarded as one Of the most for.
midable vessels aHoat. The course was
between Cape Ann and Booue Island.
The ship exceeded the required speed
OF 10 knots an hour by more than half
a knot, thereby earning for her build
ers, the Cramps, a bonus of $50, 900.
The Indiana is a steel ship 34S feet
in length, and with displacement Of
something more than 10,O tons. Yet
she answers the helm SO well that on
her trial trip she was turned within a
circle Of 400 yards radius.
Heavy armor protects her hull, deck
and turrets. She carries four l3-inch,
eight S-inch and four 6-inch breech-
loading rifles, besides 90 6-pounder and
six 1pounder rapid-f fire guns, two CAT
lings and six torpedo tubes. Her total
weight Of armament compares favora-
bly, with that Of the latest battle-ships
built by foreign powers.
The day after the trial trip of the
Indiana, two gunboats, the Nashville
and the Wilmington, were launched at
Newport News This was the first
occasion since the civil war of the
launching of two vessels for the navy
on the same day. The gunboats, which
are built OF steel are specially designed
for service in shallow waters
A novel feature of the Nashville is
tho arrangement Of her machinery.
which is designed to secure economy
Of fuel at cruising speed by means Of
ow-pressure cylinders so arranged as
TO disconnect when working at reduced
power. The Wilmington is of very
light draught, and her hull aft is OF /
unusual shape, being followed out into
two tunnels, to admit an easy flow
oil water TO the screws.
The armored cruiser Brooklyn was
launched October I'd, at the Cramps
shipyard. She is a sister ship to the
New York, but larger and Of greater
displacement, and combines speed. en-.
durance and lighting capacity in a
hIgh degree Her estimated speed is
20 knots I;
The armored cruiser Maine, which
rttf N iagt ;,,g a
IL tho most powerful vessel in the navy
with the exception of the Brooklyn and
the Indiana. She is not so large as the
New York or the Columbia, but H.
heavily armored, as they are not. asd
carries a powerful armament Glo,
made II knots an hour on her trial
trip.
The Texas, also recent addition to
the navy, is classed as a rccondr rata
battle-ship. She carries fewer guns,
than the Maine, but two Of them are
of greater caliher
Three rst.class battle ships. sister
vessels 10 the Indiana. arc nearing
completion, and will he put in commits
sion in few moaths. These arc tho
Massachusetts, Oregon and, Iowa, and
they are expected TO be ready in the
order named.
The two battle-shIps authorized by
the last Congress are to carry two
stnried turrets, the lower having two
l3-inch and the upper two S.inch gunn
The purpose of this arrangement is to
permit the concentration of an enor-
nous weight of shot on given point.
The experiment is regarded with ap-
prehension by some naval experts be-
cause of the great increase of ,xposed
surface, and the possibility that sin
gle well-directed shot, by disabling one
of the turrets, might put four guns
out of use.