Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-04
LARGER BATTLESHIPS.
The Now Ones to Ravo Their Size, Speed
and Armament Increased.

Washington, Aug. 2.-Secretary Long has
directed that the entire subject of design.
displacement and speed of the three new
battleships authorized at the last session
of Congress be reopened for consideration,
and that the advlsability of constructing
far more powerful ships than those con-
temrlated In the existing plans be taken
under immediate advisement by the board
of bureau chiefs, who had previously
agreed on vessels Of about 11,5G0 tons dis
placement and speed OF about 16 knots
an hour. the discussion on the question
of speed has led to so much adverse crit-
cism on the declared policy Of the depart
ment to adhere strictly to the plans and
type OF battleship as represented by the
Alabama and Illinois that the probabilities
are not only strong now that the new ves-
sells will also be considerably larger than
any battleshps built for the new navy.
To enable the officials to construct such
ships Will require congressional authority
and appropriations. as the plans for the
proposed vessels, for which bids are to be
opened on September J. limit the displacc-
ment to II, 500 tons and the cost TO be
within the money provided in the last ma
val appropriation act. Both Secretary
Long and the leading experts who decide
and design all now vessels for the navy
are now convinced that X would be
mistake to build battleships which in de-
sign, speed. and size would show no adj
vance over those authorized from three
to six years ago. Some days ago the bu-
reau chiefs considered the question Of
changing the machinery OF the proposed
vessels and of adhering. II possible, to the
present plans for displacement and bat
terry arrangement. Engincer-in-Chlef Mel
Vile believed that with water tube boilers
end more space for installing engines a
speed of is Knots could be secured. but
Chief Constructor Hichborn demonstrated
out lengthcning the vessels and consider
ably modifying existing plans. which are
those in all respects of the three sister
vessels, Wisconsin, Alabama and Illinois.
These facts having been presented to
Secretary Long. he has concluded that II
the new vessels are to be of higher speed
power 1t would be advisable to advance
their efficiency in other directions as well.
To-day the experts considered the subject
and while the discussion has not yet de-
veloped the opinions Of all the individual
members. il is understood that the board
will recommend that the size Of the YES
sells be advanced to 1880 tons. which
would rate them 1900 tons ahead of the
Iowa. at present tho largest battleship,
and that the batteries also be made more
powerful than those decided on originally.
| 1t has been determined that at any event
the speed shall be raised, and " IL shall be
determined that this cannot he done with
olt calling for complete revision of pres
ent designs the secretary will be asked TO
recommend TO Congress an increased ap-
preparation and authority to build battle
ships of "about 1850 tons" instead of a
"displace of about II, 900 TONS" AS is now
provided.
| This action would necessitate a post
ponemcnt of the building of the vessels
until after Congress assemblies and as
there is no necessity of Fastening the COM
pletion of these ships, II is urged by the
experts that it would be far wiser to have
vessels OF the most modern design and the
highest obtainable rate of speediness for
sea.
( chief Constructor Hichborn has already
prepared designs for battleships of not less
than 800 tons. and these will be the basis
for the boards action II this type is
agreeds to, the ships will each have four
12-inch' guns. aud e'ght S-inch instead of
four i3-inch and II s-inch. such as the de-
signs of the proposed vessels call for, in
addition to all these eights there will lie a
number of rapid fire flves or skies as well.