New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-31
HIGH SPEED FOR WARSHIPS.
NAVAL BOARD DIRECTS THE BUREAUS
TO PROCEED WITH PLANS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuyEl

experts to-day under the specific authority Of
Secretary Long. unanimously reaffrmed its ac-
;ion in recommending a comprehensive pro-
gramme involving the speedy construction Of
fifteen warships exactly as outlined in The
Tribune two weeks ago. and directed the various
bureaus Of the Navy Department to proceed
forthwith with the preparation of the actual
plans for the greatest construction project ever
undertaken in a single period by the United
States. Since the adoption Of the programme by
the Board on August II it's members have de-
voted themselves earnestly to the thorough con-
sideration Of the lessons gained In the war with
Spain. and Of the necessity ror vast sea power
imposed by the possession OF distant islands
and increased American commerce. and thcy
began upon the details to-day without modify
ing. in any material particular. the classes OF
vessels which were determined uron as essen
tial for the Navy hereafter. This afternoons
/ meeting demonstrated that the members were
more thoroughly than ever Convincee that larger
ships with higher speed and much greater coal
endurance than any now In the American SER
vice. were absolutely Indispensable and ought
to be begun with as .tle delay as possible.
THE ORIGINAL PROGRAMME
The general programme as originally laid
down. provided for fifteen vessels of which six
were to b. heayily armored ne-of-hattle fight
ing ships six to be- small protected cruisers. and
three midway between these extremes. The
three battles ships were to exceed 1900 tons dis
placement. vita a minimum speed with all
stores and coal aboard of lSi2 knots. there
were To hc three frst-class arnored cruisers OF
120O0 tons, or one-ttrd larger than the New
York and the Brooklyn. with % knots speed
and a coal endurance Of at least 10000 knots:
three em-armored and protected secondclass
cruisers. OF a highly improved Olympia type,
and six 16knot protected cruisers Of 2.Fn
tons slightly superior 20 IN" Detroit class. with
the remarkab bic steaminF radius of 1900 knots.
The Board further determined that all ships
should be sheathed with oak and copper 10
make them comparatively independent ~ dry
docks.
As a result of to-day's meeting. practically
establishing this programme as The adopted
policy of the Navy for the immediate future IN"
work Of designing the three hattlcships VIII
tegin at once along the following lines:
DIMENSIONS. SPEED GUNS AND ARMoR
The displacement is fixed al l35co tons upon
a draught OF 21i2 feet when the vessel IS loaded
to the TaXimun. and AT that draught mini
mum speed Of lSl2 knots is obe guaranteed Coal
bunker space for between 1.So and 2.U@ tons
Of fuel is to he provided. IN order that a steam
ing radius cf 10000 knots at a knot speed
may be secured The armor f. e cover the on
tire vessel IN the form OF cuirass II viii he
made after the Krupp modification ~ the Har-
vovized process and Is 10 be II inches thick
amidships taperirg 10 inches AT the DOW and
stern There VIII be four Pinch rihes OF extra
length for smokolcss powder. mounted In pairs
in two turrets the latter being Of the eAiptcal-
balanced type with sloped fronts Tn" battle
ships az well as all the other vessels VIII be
equipped with water-tube boilers ami twin
quadruple engines. As soon as the plans for
these bat,le-shps progress sufficiently the de-
tails for the big armored cruisers will he taken
up by the construction officers.
IMPROVING ON THE ILLINOIS TYPE.
II is a peculiar coincidence that the plans for
these magnificent hattle-ships ar" begun stimuli
taneously to almost a day with the opening OF
bids for three other battle-ships upon which
contractors have been figuring for tn" last three
months This competition VIII close AT noon on
September l. and II is almost a forcgone conclu-
sion that the Cramps. the Scots and the New
port News Company Will each attempt ia secure
a vessel which is practically the duplicate or
similar battle-ships now being built by each OF
these firms, although the proposals are expected
70 develop slight notifications which Will give
Increased speed ana tHbul dI'' 'f'' Wv '''''
bama the Illinois and the Wisconsin These
vessels which were authorized by the last CON
gress have given rise to considerable contro-
versy because they possess no radical Improve
ments over their predecessors. and were OF aH-
nittedly inferior type 10 the heavy warships
now building I'm Great Britain. France. Germany
and Russia They are of l1.5oO tons Nsplace-
ment draw 23ie feet. carry 1.2" tons OF coal
and have protection TO their vitas only in the
form Of "A 16la-inch armor belt Their design
called for the ordinary 13inch rife. and they
were not 10 be rejected by the Navy F Their
sneed WAS above fifteen knots. although pen
altv Of S25 600 quarter Of qnot was imposed
ror anv reduction between sixteen kn'fs and
fifteen and one half knots. and at the rate or
5nOOO a quarter knot between fifteen and one
half knots and fifteen knots.
Under the circumstances Of to-day's action
NJ the naval experts these slow battle ships VIII
shipbuilders on Thursday take advantage OF
Secretary Longs appeal for a guarantee or
biohnr sDeed than at first contemplated,
and the 50 600 600 provided 10y Congress for the
buu and machinery Of these vessels rnay be
saved 10 apply to the comprehensive naval pro
eramroe which conservative estimates indi-
ca,e will involve an outlay approximatnS $40
100000
PRESIDENTS ABSENCE MARKED.