New-York tribune., 1898-01-21
JAPAN,S CRUISER LAUNCHED
THE KAsAGI GOES OFF THE WAYS At
THE CRAMP sHIPYARD.
NAMED BY SECRETARY LONGS DArGHTEH-
DOVES RELEASED INSTEAD OF BREAK
ING THE CUSTOMARY BOTTLE
OF CHAMPAGNE.


PHILADELPHIA ia 2O-The japanese cruiser ks
sagi was successfully launched at the cranp snip
wards this afternoon. When the huge ship began
10 glide down to her first bath in the muddy Della
ware six doves futtered from a basket at the DOW
and circl!ng about the fast-receding hull. SCAT
tered flowers her deck and on me structure OF
timber and iron from which she slipped gracefuily
away II pretty piece OF mechanism ana u
not at all incongruous that the chiet ACTOR
should be a charming American glri-Miss Helen
Long daughter OF the Secretary OF the Navy. Mss
Long was 10 have drawn the cord which released
the doves and their foral burdens. The fact was.
however that the cord slipped from her hand. and
n brawny workman OF the yard instantly caught u
and performed the othce. This was observed only
by those in immediate proximity TO the vessel
The original programme called for the launching
OF the vessel at high tide. shortly after noon. but
It was delayed until 1881 o'clock TO await the A.
rival OF the Washington party. who came In
special train. The salute given 10 the Kasagi was
less noisy than that given time and again TO
American warships at their launching. The party
the stand Included not only officials OF this
country and Japan. but members OF the Diplomatic
Corps from Mexico and the South American re-
pubcs. The japanese Minister Toru Hoshi. by
whose invitation Miss Long was chosen TO name tho
Kasag- headed the delegation. and besides those
attached TO his staf IN Washington there were
japanese from New-York and Chicago. The Amert.
can party from the capital was arge ana notapie.
few moments before the cruiser slipped OF the
The interval was brief. however. and few minutes
later the storm began again.
cluding Secretary Long and his daughter went 70
the Hotel Walton; where they were the guests OK
speechmakIng OF an Informal character. and later
The Kasagi Is the most important ship ever built
In the United States for "A foreign country. and IS
the first foreign warshp launched in America since
the Russian vessel Zobca In 1873. The dimensions
OF the Kasagi Length. 37ii2 feet breadth. isx
feet: depth. 30 feet; Graught Il feet inches
displacement at hat draught 1900 tons. In tho
specifications she is classed a protected cruiser
of the second class, and ike all vessels OF her
type, has no defensive armor relying on her coal
bunkers which run loS feet fore and aft OF her
amdshps section 10 protect her engines which
entirely below the waterne Above these is q
protective deck. having a maximum thickness oe
four and one-half inches on the slopes and one ard
three fourths inches on the fat. The motive power
Is supplied by -wo vertical inverted. tripe-expan-
sion. four-cyinder engines. driving twin screws.
and estimated to develop under forced draught a
mean speed OF twenty-five and one-half knots
hour The engines OF 1900 horse power. and tho
boler-rooms contain twelve singe-ended boilers Is
feet inches in diameter and Q feet inches n
length The batteries on the kasagi are heavier
than those either the Minneapolis or the Colun-
b.a. There two s-inch rifles the sides. and
ten 47-inch quick-1rng rifles mounted In broad.
firing rifles and six 2s-inch IIotchkiss guns. whoa
the vessel is handed over 10 the japanese Govern.
ment five torpedo tubes. fourteen inches in dam
eter. will be mounted. There are two steel masts
on the Kasagi. These will be provided with fight.
ing-tops in which rapid firing guns will be placed
searchights and there Will be eight steering sta
tions aboard. 10 provide for almost any contn-
gency. The engines VIII be protected by solid steel
matches.
The contract for the Kasagl was signed with
representatives OF the japanese Government on De-
cember 81. lss5. and her building carefully
watched by Commander KatsurO Narita. naval at
tache Of the Legation at Washington. The Kasagl
was named for a mountain In Japan. where in the
northern court faction was, with his followers he =
at bay after bloody of sixty years or NOR
waged with the Nancho. southern court tt
followers Of the Hokochu faction. though seeming
doomed to destruction rallied and after a desL Le,-
ate battle achieved victory TIE custom Of r..
leasing doves at the launching of a Japane.c
cruiser has It's origin partially IN history but NOR.
I'm fable. A feuda chief Of the Shinto faith who.
devotees worship the spirits of their ancestors hs
a chief Of another faith Refusal made their d..
termination TO wed hrmer and elopemenC fo'-
lowed. Pressed by the fa'her's followers tho
fugtives hid themselves In a cave In the mountain
As the hding-place was about 10 be invaded two
doves flew from the entrance. To the father the,
betOkenei the spirits OF ancestors protesting In a
feeble way at the dosecration OF their abode. Re-
buked by them, he turned away his dependents
went with him and the lovers soon made thei. way
had navy the custom Of liberatng doves has
been in