Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-12

III leIefeEce LO the lodu line that the VeS- sels with 40 tons of coal aboard will have 3la feet of this belt armor above water, and with 1900 tons of coal, 2 feet above the water line. The belt will extend from the stem to the after barbette, and will maintain the maximum thickness from the after end of the belt to the for ward boiler room bulkhead, whence it will taper gradually to thickness of 1 inches at the bow.
 Protection will be afforded above the main side armor by a steel belt inches thick. extending up to the level of the main deck, and running ia a fore and aft direction from the center of the forward to the center of the after barbette. On top of the main side armor belt there will | be a flat steel deck 2A inches in thick ness. on the slopes increased to 3 and 5 inches
 Additional precautions have been taken to protect the vessels against raking fires by athwartship bulkheads of armor 10 and 12 inches thick, worked at the points where the deck is worked with incline sides. In addition to all this armor, cof- fer-dams filled with compressed, fire proof American corn pith cellulose. re- gently tested with good reSults. will be placed along the entire length of the ves- sei in the region of the water line. Double Turrets.
 The feature of the vessels which makes them notably different from other battle
  which there is still some difference of opinion. Their advantages are said to be a large saving in weight. which permits or more guns and more powerful ma- chinery for the propulsion, better con- centration of fire and the ability of the vessel 10 deliver all four guns In either forward or after turret almost simulta- neously, with the result of hitting ter rife blow to the target.
 No battleship, the ordnance officers contend, could withstand the blow if ey- cry shot took effect. The introduction of the double turret system was opposed by the constructors on the ground that it was too great departure in the methods or mounting guns, and that there was danger of both turrets being placed out of action by single shot hitting either. They also pointed out that there was no advantage in discharging the guns of both at once, for the reason that if one shot missed a ship through poor aim it undoubtedly would follow that all would. and thus half of the ships broadside of heavy guns would be lost.
 The objections advanced, however, were met by the ordnance bureau, and Secretary Herbert finally decided to place the new turrets on the two ships and have them mounted with the heav- fest guns made for the navy-heavier even than the rifles adopted for the bat tleships now building by other govern ments
 The coming tower, from which point the ships will be fought when in action, will be protected by 10 inches of armor, and Inside will be a tube with inches of armor leading down to the armor deck for the protection of the voice pipes, tel egraphs, steering rods etc. Throughout the vessels the use of wood will be re- duced to minimum the state room bulkheads being constructed of steel cov- cred with cork, sheathed. All wood ma- fala tvl hn will be tested by the electric fireproofng process.
 Wide Cruising Radius.
 The Kentucky and the Kearsarge will carry their full coal supply of 1210 tons with the greatest ease, their bunker room being so ample that the coal can simply be dumped into 1t without the labor of trimming. This quantity will be ample for all ordinary contingencies of cruising and for service in time of war along the coast. as at cruising speed of ten knots 1t will enable them to steam 5000 miles and at thirteen knots nearly 4000, or at full speed to cross from New York to Ire land. Should the service-of these battle ships be required at distance, however, temporary provision could be made by which 400 or 500 tons of extra coal could be stored away with corresponding in crease in the radius of action.
 Externally the Kentucky. will not be unlike the battleship Indiana, as far as 1peRrance goes, with the exception that the single large mast of the Indiana will te replaced by two huge masts on the Kentucky, and the latters smoke stacks .sill be several feet taller to give increas- ed development of furnace power.
 One of the strongest features of the Kentucky, and one which is distinctly an advance In battleship construction, is the overpowering battery of fourteen 5-inch guns, thoroughly protected by 6 inches of the best armor. These guns are of the largest caliber, which can be fired with great rapidity. and the protection given them such that it could be penetrated by but few of the guns carried by any op- posing battleships except the twelves.