Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-20
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Arrival of the Detroit Mt Port mn
Prince.

The cruiser Detroit arrived at Port au
frince today and Capt McCalla of the
Marblehead. which has been stationed
there, notified the Navy Department by
cable that he would sail at once for Kew
west. AT that place he will coal and then
proceed to Navassa Island to Investigate
Inc allegations Of inhuman treatment of
the American laborers by the agents of the
corporation controlling the island Capt
McCaIia would have proceeded directly to
NaVassa from Port au Prince, but was
short of coal, and deemed it imprudent to
chance fever by coaling in the West Indies.
The Cruise of the Helena
The little gunboat Helena. which left
New York few days ago, will carry the
stars and stripes to foreign ports where
they have never yet been seen on a war
ship. The bigger warships in their cruises
to distant parts follow the beaten paths
and stop only at the principal ports The
Helena being of extremely light draught
however. will be able to enter rivers and
bays Inaccessible to the larger fighting ma
chimes She was designed especially to visit
interior ports and wGen she reaches the
Chinese station, where she is bound she
will ascend the rivers of the celestial en-
pire to greater distance than was possible
to any Of the predecessors of the American
navy.
After a cruise around the Island of Boo
MA the Helena Will enter upon one OF the
most eventful side trips of the voyage-a
trip to the famed city of Bagdad. To reach
Bagdad it will ne necessary for the Helena
to enter the Euphrates river at it's mouth
in the Persian gulf ard cruise up to the
point of its junction with the River Tigris.
voyage of about 800 miles up the Tigrs
will bring the Helena to Bagdad, which is
100 miles from the sea.
The Helena will cast anchor at Bagdal
and stay there long enough to let every one
so disposed take a look at her and the flag
she carries and then she will steam down
the Tigris again to take up her voyage for
China and other eastern ports.
Plans for "a BattIeship.
In anticipation of authority by Congress
for the construction of another battleship
Chief Naval Constructor Hichborn is en-
gagged in the preparations of plans for
first class vessel of that type. 1t will be
heavier in armament than the battleships
of the same class now under construction
and will embody all the latest improve
ments in naval architecture. The plans
under preparation call for ship OF not less
than Ii knots speed under forced draught
a length of sI2 feet by 13 feet beam. and
mean draught of not more than "a feet on
displacement of II $40 tolS. The plans
Of the engineers call for twin screws and
vertical triple expansion engines, with
maximum indicated horse power of not less
than 10000.
turrcts will be of 1:S-inch caliber, which the
ordnance sharps have settled. is the proper
type for the big battleships, while a large
secondary battery Of rapid fire and machine
guns is to be arranged along the broad
sides. The turrets will be of the defective
type. and an interesting feature of the ship
is the more general use of electricity, in
Guiding the appliance of the power to the
| turning of the turrets. The secondary bat
terry under the plans will be the heaviest
carried by any battleship designed for the
new navy. The plans have been drawn
thus early in order that bids may be
promptly asked should authority be given
by Congress Heretofore the completion of
new ships has been delayed six months or
more owing to the necessity of drawing en-
tirely new plans.