The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-03
THE NEW BATTLESHIP.


ure in sending to Washington, asking
that the new battleship now being
planned for the United States Navy be
named "Rhode Island" measured over
$50 feet in length and contained up
.Yard of .S00 names.
The long roll was accompanied by the
following letter of transmittal:
| Hon. II. A. HERBERT. SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY, WAsHINGroN, ID. c.:
SIR-Ihave the honor 20 forward herewith a
petition, made through the Providence NEWS,
of citizens of Rhode Island and headed by the
Governor of the State, Governor Elect
Mayors of cities, eIo., TO have one of the new
battleships, authorized by the last Congress-
named Rhode Island"
second petition is now rapidly receiving
signature. have the honor TO be, Sir,
Your obedient servant.
The Editor of the Providence NEWS Zone cent?
The receipt of the petition and accom-
panying papers, is acknowledged in the
following communication which bears
the signature of Assistant Secretary
WILLIAM MCADoo:
Navy Department,
Washington, May 81. 1895.
To THE EDITOR OF THE PROVIDENCE NEWS.
Sm-Your letter of the eth instant accom-
panied by a petition, made through the Prov
idonce News, OF citizens of Rhode Island, and
others, to have one of the new battleships
authorized by Congress named Rhode
Island" has been received.
In rpDlV haVe n m farm vnu tbat vour lat
ter and the petition above mentioned will be
given due consid GRAFTON in the selection of
names for the new battleships.
Very respectfully.
w. MCADoo, Acting Secretary.
The plans for the two new battleships
authorized by Congress are now COM
pleted by the Navy Department. One
OF them, contrary to the custom in nam
ing battleships for States, is to be chris
tened "Kearsarge' by special instruc-
tion by Congress, as tribute to the fa-
nous sloop-of-war which sunk the
Alabama off the Cherbourg coast.
What the other ship will be named is
still left open to decision. Secretary HER
BERT in letter to Ex-Governor BROWN
stated that the claims of Rhode Island
should be considered, and thereupon this
newspaper undertook the pleasant task of
getting subscribers to petition to this
end. We pointed out at the time that
the claims of our little State are
eminent. In the first place, Rhode Isl
and is as handsome name as a
100000 battleship could ask for. This
State has been a cradle for naval sea-
men. Rhode Island furnished the
nucleus of the first Continental Navy
and her sens did gallant service in every
naval war from the Revolution to the
Rebellion. PERRY was Rhode Islander.
So was EsEK HOPKINS, the first COM
mander-in-chief of the American navy.
A battleship named for our State
would be very proper company for the
fine fleet of batteships bearing the
names of Texas, Maine, Indiana, Iowa,
Massachusetts, and Oregon. And we
repeat our suggestion that boards of
trade and other organiza tions all over
the State adopt resolutions petitioning
that the naming of the new war ship be
Rhode Island. The Navy Department
has given assurance that any such action
will have due and courteous considera-
tion.
Meanwhile, sign The News petition
on another page-everybody!
The new battleships will probably be
Of over 1900 tons displacement, us
large, maybe even larger. than
the big Indiana or even the |
Iowa type. The extreme draught
will, it is said. be a5 feet-a draft that
permits the easy entrance Of the princi-
pal harbors, as our naval policy, even in
The battleship class. is based largely on
he coast defence idea.
The speed fixed is 10 knots, for the
our hours trial prescribed. and the
lrmor at the water line belt is fixed at
. inches, this reduction from the
indiana class. Is inches, making no loss
n efficiency as the new HARVEY process
,lates are to be used. The battery will
consist of four 13-inch guns, four S-inch
nd fourteen rapid fire 5-inch pieces-a
'attery that surpasses the armament of
my ship in the service. The new ships
will carry two double turrets, those for
he S-inch guns being superimposed on
hose for the finch guns-this system
'eing novel departure from the row
# turrets covering the length of the
hip.
In other words, the Kearsarge and her
lister ship are to be two of the finest war
'esscls in our fleet, or in any fleet. And
we cannot get one of them named