The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
HERE'S A NAVAL RECORD.
English Diana Built I'm 235 Days and .
Battieship I'm Two Years.
Pan Mall Gazette.

ran NAH Gazette.
Some significant and cheering words were
uttered one day last week at the launch by
the Fairchild Shipbulding Company, al Co
van, OF her MaJesty's ship Diana. The
speaker was Mr.. James Dunn. acting deputy
naval constructor. who has been represent
ing the admiralty at launches or govern
ment vessels in private yards during the H.
ness of Sir William White: The Diana is
a second-class cruiser of $500 tons and
$500 horse power. she will have q speed or
1917 knots an hour, and will be armed with
five six-inca and SIX a. guns ana nd eight
which followed. Mr.. Barnwell. the manag-
ing director OF the company. referred 10
the satisfactory terms that existed between
his company and the admiralty, and as an
illustration OF the quality and quantity OF
work that could be turned out by the Fair
Diana had been completed in sS5 working
days. Mr.. Dunn, who represented the adj
miralty. made only a brief speech, but one
that seemed 10 give great satisfaction. he
represented the admiralty at the launch
from private yards OF six great warships.
This statement was loudly cheerei. In
giancing over the work done in eleven
months of 1895 IL will be said. think, with
just pride and satisfaction" said Mr.. Dunn,
that we see a picture embracing royal
backwards and the great Shiphu:lding eStab-
lishments such as this, the Fairfield works.
which are carried on with such ability; a
picture showing as an addition 10 Great
Britain's fighting fleet
Five new frst-class battleships.
1.-TWO new firSt-claSs cruisers.
-Four new second-class cruisers
1.-Two new third-class cruisers, and
''Twentyfour well-armed. swift torpedo
destroyers
when the cheers had died away, that is a
record; but record or not, IL Is reassuring
1t is true our requirements are worldwide:
that our responsibilities demand serious
thought that we have not only 10 safe
guard that great portion OF the globe
known under the comprehensive term or
esA 1trTr hax IN ra~~f
a floating world represented by eleven thou-
sand ships of the mercantile marine, meas
uring thirteen millions of tons
The vast proportions OF Britain's mer-
camille marine caused more cheering. which
was renewed when Mr.. Dunn concluded
with Sufficient has been said to Indicate
the resolute activity of the government" II
would seem from the statements made by
Mr.. Dunn that between the royal dockyards
and private shipbuilding concerns in the
United Kingdom, Great Britain could turn
out a very respectable navy in couple or
years Through the courtesy OF some or
the admiralty officials the press has been
furnished with some stirring details OF the
marvelouslv short time occupied At Chatham
in the building OF the Magnificent. and at
Portsmouth of the Majestic. The construc-
ton OF the Magnificent within two years Is
said to be a record.
According to the information furnished the
construction of this battleship was begun on
Dec 49, 1893; she was launched on Dec. 1e.
1894. and she was commissioned on Dec u,
1895. This is undoubtedly quick work, but
very much mistaken there is more than one
private yard in Great Britain able 20 10 the
work in as short time as. or, ali things
being equal. in less time than any royal
deckyard can do IL. Take the Magnificent.
for instance" SAID one Of the largest ship
builders in the country to the Pail Mall rep
resenta tive 'ard lef us see what all that
has been said about record-breaking
amounts to. She was turned ont of a royal
doclyari. and. let us saw. ready for sea in
two years. There is nothing surprising in
that While she was on the STOCKS The yard
did nothing else Every vaiiable man was
set to work upon her. At times they even
worked double shifts. Resides IN royal
dockyards. as much as three months pre-
liminary work is done before an official
start is made. In royal backwards plans
are approved at once. and there is none or
the waiting with which private shipbuiiders
are so we'll acquainted. In building a bat
tleship a ROYAL dockyard gets about three
months start OF private yard. That's a
good deal TO begin with Then. as I've said
they do nothing else until they launch the
vessel. In a nrivate ward ship OF the
same size could asiv he turned ont in the
same length of time with fair start
without interfering with the other work OF
the yard