The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24
the Nmit OF cost excluslve OF armamel

the limit OF cost exclusive OF armament
was fixed at 100000.
These being the first great warships de-
signed under the present administration
IL was resolved that no effort should De
spared 10 make them. without question.
the highest types of their class; and for
the past six months lively controversies
have ragged in the Navy Department over
their smallest details. every portion OF
the designs having been exhaustively dis
cussed by experts. and every advantage
OF experience gained from other battle
ships constructed both at home and
abroad having been fully utilized.
one essential requisite laid down by
Secretary Herbert was that these YES
sells should draw less water when fully
laden than any other flrst-cass battle
ship. either in this country or abroad.
The largest foreign battleships. when
ready for sea duty, draw in the neigh
borhood OF twenty-eight feet of water
our existing battle ships. while draw
ing twenty-four feet at normal displace-
ment. owing TO settling by the stern due
to increased weight, really draw about
twenty-sevcn feet. Battle ships and =
have been designed TO draw but twenty
five feet, with 200 tons of coal and all
stores and ammunition on board. This
will enable them 10 reach all Of the prin-
cipal navy-yards and ports Of the coun-
try even when fully laden, and viii make
their docking less difficult than that Of
the other American battle ships.
THE LARGE GUNS.
The question Of the calibre and DISPOSE
ton of the large guns gave rise to more
discussion than any other question in
connection with these vessels. chief Con-
structor Hichborn, who Is responsible
for all designs under the new ruling Of
the Navy Department held views differ
ing radically from those OF the Chief
OF the Bureau of Ordnance, who designs
and builds the guns. The chief construc-
tor advocated that the largest guns
should be II inches calibre-four being
carried in two turrets and that eight
inch guns should be carried in four tur-
rets. making six turrets I'm all. The Chief
Of Ordnance proposed the novel scheme
Of two double-decked turrets on each ship
IN the lower part of which were to he
mounted two 1S-inch guns. and In the
upper part two S-inch guns, making the
heavier battery consist OF four l3-inch
and four S-inch IN two turrets The de-
partment. upon the majority vote OF the
council OF bureau chiefs. finally adopted
this plan. and the l3-inch and S-inch guns
VIII accordingly be mounted in double
turrets. one RICHLY supcrpoed upon
the other
These guns positions will be elliptical
in section. with major axes in the line
OF ire. and will have complete armor
protection from a distance Of four feet
below tho water line 10 the top OF the
s-inch turrets. This armor. as well as
all arrnor used on these vessels. viii be
solid nickel-stcel, Harveyizcd. The lower
part Of the protection. the so-called bar
hettes as well as the 13-inch turrets, win
have armor fifteen inches thick. except
Immediately IN front. where IL will be
Increased 10 seventeen inches The armor
protecting the S-inch guns viii be nine
inches. and that also will be TWO inches
heavier whore the guns protrude.
In addition 10 these heavy guns a bat
terry OF fourteen 5-inch rapid-hre guns
Will be mounted on the main deck be-
tween the turrets and Will he protected
by continuous armor elk inches thick. a
splinter bukhead two inches thick sep
arating each gun station. A numerous
battery Of smaller six-poundcr and one
FOUNDER guns Will be placed wherever
they can fire 20 advantage
Tho protection OF the huh against injury
10 the vital regions along the water-iine
will be effected by means OF a side arnor
belt OF sixteen and half inches maxi
mum thickness. with mean depth of
seven and a half feet. 80 disposed in re-
ference TO the load-line that the vessel,
with 40 tons OF coal aboard. viii have
three and half feet OF this belt arInor
above the water and with 1910 tons OF
coal aboard. two feet. will be exposed 20
view The belt extending from the stem
TO the aft baroette and maintaining a
maximum thickness from It's after end
10 the forward boiler room bulkhead viii
taper gradually 10 four inches behind the
ram.
Protection will be afforded above the
main side armor by a steel belt nve inches
thick extending up 10 the level OF the
main deck and running In = fore-and-aft