New-York tribune., 1896-05-13
on NAVAL ARMAND
REPORT OF THE WALKER BOARD TO SEC
RETARY HERBERT
ARRANGEMENT OF GUNS on THE NEW BATTLE
suIPs-THE DOUBLE TURRET CUES
TION DISCUSSED.
ipY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.]

TION DISCUSSED.
;pY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
WASHINGTON May l2-The Walker Board. which
hoe under consideration the character and distribu
tion of guns and turrets Of battlesh!ps TO be au-
thorzed by Congress- Will make its report to secre
tarv Herbert this week. The deliberations OF the
Board have reached the point when dehhite Gun
clusions can be formed without much more discus
sion 1t is probable that the report Will De hahde'
10 Mr. Herbert on Friday. The Naval Appropriation
bill for year contains the unusual provision tha
the contract for the vessels shall be let WITHIN
ninety davs after the measure becomes a law. Inc
Walker Board has worked zealously under secretary
Herbert's orders TO report upon the question us ~
what is the wisest and most efficient method OF us
tributing guns and their size. etc. also as 10 'he
character and location Of turrets. The question IL
an important one and in taking its various phases
into account the Board has considered. not only the
American system but those followed by Ehelahu
France and Russia The report Will pe OF Huch
value and Is likely owing to the fairness ana aoiIiF
Of the members. TO be approved by Secretary her-
bert.
1t Is not too late to change the plans Of the Kear-
saree and Kentucky which under present arrange
ments are TO have superposed turre;s. and rumor
has IT that Secretary Herbert may order chahs's
made In these ships TO accord with some sugseSuo'S
of the Board. 1t said at the Navy Depar 'ifl'
to-day that the Walker Board Will spring Dig sur
prise on the Navy The matter OF superpoeed tur-
rets has been much discussed subject To one side
or the other of the question the brightest minds III
the Navy have lent themselves. Secretary Herbert
some time ago ordered the installation or THIS sys-
tenn on the Kearsarge and Kentucky Ii has been ex-
pected that the Walker Board would either recon-
mend this plan for other battle-ships TO be author
lied by Congress- adopt Chief Constructor Hich-
borns recent recommendations on the subject OF
turrets or suggest that the design OF the Indiana
class be followed These three plans arc dstnctively
American.
1t appears however. that the board regards some
recent English designs with favor particularly that
of the battle-ship Majestic class, and that /; Will
settle the mooted question as to the location OF
eightinch turrets by advising tha. their structures
be not placed on vessels TO be built So closely
are the recommendations Of the board guarded from
the public thai only meagre Information as 10 the
proposition can be had From the little which has
leaked out II that Admiral Walker and his
colleagues propose that the heavy battery OF each
OF the new ships shall consist Of four thirt"enncn
guns mounted in pairs IN turrets two forward ara
OF great thickness and OF the best armcr
procurable Eisht-!nch guns are 10 be dis
pensed with Thus there Will be no need OF any
iurrets other than those for the thrteen-inch
rifles. In place Of the eight-inch guns battery Of
twelve or fourteen six-inch guns j, TO be suggested
These guns to be placed IN the superstructure
and so distributed as to deliver the most effective
fire.
This arrangement does away with the vexed
question Of superposed turrets, but 1t does not
settle that discussion. Naval officers who talked Of
pediency OF adopting an English systcn in American
ships. They said that American batteshps had
been noteworthy for their extraordinary gun fire.
and that the proposition 10 do with eight Inch
guns and substitute six-inch rifles a step back
ward. 1t was pointed out that eight-inch guns Will
a large area. ard that six-inch guns would fall
TO do 1t Is true. these officers said. that Eng
land and France favor four big guns and number
seriously questioned by Americans