The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-31
PUSHING THE BIG NAVY.
Board Of Experts Begin on the Plans
For New Sims.


For New Ships.
New York, Aug. 31-A special to the
tribune from Washington says:
Ihe naval board of experts under the
specification of Secretary Long have
unanimously reaffirmed their action in
recommending a comprehensive pro-
gramme involving the speedy construc-
ton of fifteen warships as outlined two
weeks ago and directed the various
bureaus of the navy department to
proceed forthwith with the preparation
OF the actual plans for the largest naval
construction project ever undertaken
IN single period by the United States
LIVER since the adoption OF the pro
gramme by the board on August II,
the members have devoted themselves
earnestly to the knowledge gained IN
the war with Spain and the necessity
FOR vast sea power imposed by the
possession of distant islands and IN
creased American commerce and they
began upon the details yesterday, with
out modifying in an important par
ticular the classes of vessels which were
determined upon as essential for the
navy hereafter.
The meeting yesterday demonstrated
that the members were more thorough
" than ever convinced that large ships,
with higher speed and much greater
coal endurance than any now in the
American service were absolutely IN
dispensabIe and ought to be begun with
as little delay as possible.
The general programme, as originally
laid down, provided for fifteen vessels,
of which six were to be heavily armOred
line of battle fighting ships. six to be
small protected cruisers and three mid
way between these extremes. The three
battleships were to exceed 1900 tons
displacement with a minimum speed
with all stores and coal aboard, of 1872
knots: there were to be three first class
armored cruisers of 10000 tons, or one
third larger than the Few York and the
Brooklyn, with = knots speed and a
coal endurance of at least 10000 knots;
three seni-armored and protected sec
ond class cruisers of a highly improved
Olympia type and six 16 knot protected
cruisers of $500 tons slightly superior
to the Detroit class, with the remark
able steaming radius of $4,000 knots
The board further determined that all
ships should be Sheathed with oak and
copper. to make them comparatively
independent of dry docks.
AS a result of the meeting, practically
eSta bliShing this programme as the
adopted policy of the navy for the i'm
mediate future, the work of designing
the three battleships viii begin at once
along the following lines; The dis
placement is fixed at 1850 tons upon
a draught of Pig feet when the vessel
is loaded to the medium and that
draught a minimum speed of 1917 knots (
is to be guaranteed. Coal bunker space /
for between I 800 and 2, GOO tons of fuel
is to be provided in order that a steal !
ing radius of 10. 900 knots at ten knot /
speed may be secured. The armOr is to |
cover the entire vessel in the form of /
a cuirass. 1t will be made after the !
Krupp modification of the Harveyized /
process. and is to be u inches thick !
amidShips taperiDg to five inches at the /
bow and stern. There will be four IA !
inch rifles of extra length for smOkeless |
powder. mounted in pairs in two tur- |
rets. the latter being of the elHptlcaI 1
balanced type, with SlOped fronts. Inc |
battieShipS as we'll as the other vessels |
will be equipped with water tube boil |
ers and twin quadTuple engines AS /
soon as the plans for these battleships |
progress sufficiently the details for the |
big armored cruisers will be taken up |
by the construction officers
It is a peculiar coincidence that the
plans for these magnificent battleships
are begun simultaneously to almost a
day with the opening of bids for three
battleships upon which contractors
have been figuring for the last three
months. This competition will close at
noon on September 1 and it is almost
a foregOne conclusion that the Cramps,
the SCOTS and the Newport News com
Dauy will each attempt to secure yes
sci which is practically the duplicate of
similar battleships now being built by
each of these firms, although the pro-
posals are expected to develop slight /
notifications which will give increased
sDeed and endurance over the Ala |
bama, the Illinois and the Wisconsin |
These vessels, which were authorized (
by the last congress, have given rise to
controversy because they
have no radical improvements over
their. predecessors and were admittedly
of inferior type to the heavy warships
now building in Great Britain, France.
Germany and Russia. They are of
II 500 tons displacement, draw 2372 feet
carry 200 tons of coal and have pro-
lection to their vitals only in the form
of a 1917 inch armor belt. Their design
called for the ordinary g inch rifle and
they were not to be rejected by the
navy if their speed was above Is knots,
a penalty of $4,000 a quarter
of q knot was imposed for any reduc-
ffon between sixteen and fifteen and
one-half knots, and at the rate of $50
600 a quarter of a knot between 1919 and
Is knots.
Under the circumstances of yester-
days action of the naval experts these
slow battleships will be probably aban-
doned altogether unless the ship build
ers on Thursday take advantage of
Secretary Longs appeal for higher
speed than was at first contemplated
and the $4,000, 600 provided for by con-
gress for the hull and machinery of
these vessels may be saved to apply to
the comprehensive naval programme,
which conservative estimates indicate
will involve an outlay approximating
cAO O0O O00