The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-25

terday are navigable fortresses of for
mldable type. and each will cost the gov
eminent S2,5OOC0O. The dimensions of one APP
Ply equally 10 the other, and their general
0ata are: Length on load water line 3GS
Ieet; beam, extreme, - feet inches; draft
On normal displacement. % feet inches;
normal displacement. II ,525 tons: maximum
management, ammunition and stores on
BOARD, 1925 tons; maximum indicated
Morse power lestimated), 10000; maximum
speed required by contract. 16 knots; nor
MAJ coal supply. 40 tons; maximum coal
supply. bunkers full. 1.210 tons: complement
oIInrGers, seamen and marines, 511.
Inc novel characteristic of these ships Is
ttnelr exceedingly moderate draft of water
out twenty-five feet when full laden-by
Mh d they may enter practically any har-
pCr OF Importance along our coast line,
something denied to most of the armored
cruisers of all other nations The offensive
c sanall.age possessed in this single feature
an enemy will be conferred effectively in the
twenty-five guns forming the main and
OF: Main battery, four 13-inch and four s
men; auxiliary battery, fourteen 5-inch
Iiapld-fire rifles For the purpose of resist
ing torpedo boat attack and enflading the
open decks or unprotected gun stations of
ar enemy, twenty 6-pounders six 1-pound-
etS ana TOUR Gatlings will keep up n de-
SrucuVe mitraileuse. Four torpedo tubes,
Two on each side amidships will complete
Inc offensive phase of the ships.
me water line region of the sides will be
projected from attack by broad band Ct
1o1a-ineh armor running along the sides
amidship for distance of ia feet. and tap
ers thence to inches at bottom. This belt
- it2 rect VIDE, and. under normal condi-
tlols only 312 feet will be above the water
nne AT the eXtremitfes of the thickest part
athWart ship. bulkheads turn inboard and
end against the barbettes or heavy tubes OF
1o-lnch steel, which rise from the protective
deck AMI shield the ammunition hoists and
turning gears of the turrets The forward
hulkhead is 10 inches thick, the after one II.
A protective deck OF hardened steel 2% inches
thick rests on the four walls formed by the
athWart ship bulkheads and the inner edge
OF the inlald side armor Under the pro-
tecting shelter of this heavy roof and many
leet of coal lie the engines. the boilers and
the magazines and the shell rooms-the
''vitals.'' in fact. of the ship. A broad band
of cellulose. extending from stem to stern,
and back of the 5-inch armor, which pro-
tectS the sides amidShipS from the heavy
armor belt up to the main deck, will auto
matlcally plug all shot holes admitting
water. The protective deck, covering the
Vltals amidships, is run slantingly to the
DOW, and the stern and forward forms the
backbone of the murderous ram which lies
just below the water
in its own water-tight compartment will
actuate the twin screws, while five great
boilers, t9eming with pressure of 1870 pounds
of steam. will supply the energy needful to
drive those engines and turn those screws
l2O times a minute. The turretS will be
turned and controlled by electricity--the
first instance on so large q scale on any
vessel, and the same power will bring the
ammunition from its storerooms to the
DreecneS OF all the large SuES-tne O-pounu-
ers and less excepted Each mast will be
fitted with it's own signal outfit, and the
lower half of each mast will form vast
wind pipe down which fresh air will be
drawn to the depth of the craft. Eighty odd
auxiliary engines will reduce the tax upon
the muscular energies of the crew, and add
to the efficiency of the ship by handling
and lowering the boats, raising the anchors,
loading the coal, discharging the ashes
bringing the shot. shell and powder from
the depth below to the gun stations, and
turning the turretS, and except for the
guidance of these mechanisms, manual la
Dor is practically unnecessary.
With 1,210 tons of coal on board and at a
cruising speed of 10 knots an hour, the yes
sells will be able to cover 5000 knots, while
at the rate of IL knots an hour they can
easily cover $500. Under press, 500 more
tons of coal can be carried, yielding a cor
responding wider range of action.