The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-01

No ArmOr Yet Built Can Withstand
the Kentucky's Concentrated Fire.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
Popular as we'll official interest is felt
TO an unusual degree IN the approaching
launch at Newport News of the new United
States battle ship No. 6, to which it was
lucky Like its sister battle ship. the
kearsarge, which will also shortly be afioat,
1t will be one of the most formidable ma
chimes fer the prosecution of mari WaIfarA
in the world so that it's launcning will be
an event of distinctive Importance in inter-
national naval history. The date of the
It is probable that it will be within the next
six weeks.
The lively controversy over the honor of
performing the ceremony of christening the
Kentucky, in which the principals were two
charming bellies of the Bluegrass State Miss
Hattie B. Richardson, who claimed that she
had been selected to act as godmother by
former Secretary Herbert, and Miss Chris
tine Bradley, daughter of Kentucky's Gov
ernor, who was the choice of the present
secretary, Mr.: Long, is still fresh in the
memory of all. Secretary Long settled the
matter by officially announcing that Miss
Bradley should perform the ceremony. Miss
Richardson high spirit would not permit
her to retire from the combat without firing
parting shot in the shape of letter both
which is still unsettled is what became of
the venerable bottle of choice Kentucky
whisky which a friend of the unsuccessful
candidate for fame forwarded to the former
secretary to be preserved for the baptism of
the big steel cruiser One thing seems GER
tain-the contents of that missing bottle will
not tickle Father Neptune's palate on the
OCCASION but worthy substitute will be
forthcoming, and the ceremony will be none
the less interesting and effective.
This new marine war engine belongs to
the type known as the Seagoing coast-lne
battle ship. She has two l3-inch barbette
turrets, like the Indiana and Iowa, and,
what no other battle ship except the Kear-
sarge, which is IN every respect her coun-
terpart possesses-tWo 8-inch superposed
turrets. The placing of the superpOsed tur-
rets in the specifications aroused very
general controversy in naval circles, and
the opposition finally proved so strong that
all idea of adopting them in the construc-
ton of other battle ships was abandoned.
The advantage claimed for the super
posed turrets We're large saving in weight
and the better concentration of fire which
they afforded. BY means of them, for in
stance, the Kentucky can bring to bear
simultaneously on one point the fire of two
13-inch and S-inch breech loading rifles.
The impact In which their concentrated fire
would result would be more terrific than
any yet known in naval warfare. No armor
in existence could withstand it.
In general appearance the Kentucky
seems rather short for its great beam. Its
length on load water line is 36S feet. with
an extreme breadth of Y feet 21a inches
The mean draught called for is % feet
inches, with the additional requirement
that when loaded with 1,210 tons of coal IL
shall not draw more than one and half
foot additional. This should make the
Kentucky and her sister ships draw less
water when fully loaded than any other
battle ship of the first class afOat. Her
displacement is 11525 tons. Her motive
power is a twin screw vertical triple ex-
pansion engine, of maximum of 10000
horse power by which speed Of sixteen
knots will be attainabe. The normal coal
supply is 40 tons. With a full supply the
Kentucky should steam 600 miles at an
average of ten knots per hour, 1000 miles at
thirteen knots, or from New York to
Queenstown at full speed.
AS TO the armament of this magnificent
battle ship. her main battery consists of
four 13-inch and four S-inch breech loading
rifles: her secondary battery Of twenty O.
FOUNDER and six 1-pounder rapid-fre guns,
four Colts and two field guns She has four
long Whitehead tubes. Her armor is 1872
inches at the top. 911 al the bottom and 1874
at the water line. The turret armor runs
from II inches down to g and that of the
barbettes from Is to L.
The full complement of the Kentucky as
of the Kearsarge, is 40 officers and All men.
The turrets are equipped with electrical
motors for controlling all operations. This
is a new departure, which the department
says will be the most severe test that has
yet been applied by any government. and, If
successful, Will no doubt establish the SUI
periOrity of electrical mechanism to the
steam or hydraulic turning gear. The sub
iect has been much discussed, and special
interest is felt in this experiment with cleo
tricity