The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-19
Is ADOPTED By THE BOARD OF
EXPERTS
Fifteen GREAT BIG WARSHIPS
To Be the Equal Of Any Fleet Afloat
and Are to Be Constructed
Immediately
Associated Press Special Wire

L
NEW YORK. Aug. 1s.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
A naval program for presentation to
Congress, involving the immediate con-
struction of fifteen warships has been
adopted by the naval board of experts to
whom the subject has been referred by
Secretary Long. 1t provides for three sea-
going barbette turret battleships of 10 900
tons displacement and a minimum 1875
knots speed when the vessels are loaded
their deepest draught, or an average speed
above 10 knots under ordinary cruising
conditions; three flrst-class armored cruis-
ers OF 1900 tons and % knots speed: three
second-class protected and armored cruis-
ers of 5000 tons displacement and 20 knots
speed, similar to the Maine type, but high
~ improved and for six protected cruisers
Of $500 tons and 16 knots speed.
The reduced speed Of the ships, which is
uniformly about two knots less than that
proposed at the preliminary meeting of
the board on Tuesday, was brought about
by the desire to secure unprecedented
range Of action on account of the increased
responsibilities Of the United States in the
Pacific and the certainty that these YES
sells, or most Of them, would be required to
make up the fleet In that ocean. The sacri-
f1ce Of speed to endurance was made with
a view of securing vessels OF at least 5000
knots radius or capable Of steaming
straight away from San Francisco to Ma
Mia and Samoa. The board decided that
the Pacific, rather than the Atlantic would
be the seat Of the naval operations In the
future. and while great sacrifice to the
speed could be made to the vessels at
tached to the outer line of national defense
on the east coast Of the United States,
about normal coal capacity and high econ
omy were prime requisites as long as dis
tant possessions to the westward required
protection. All the vessels, however, will
be as speedy as the fastest vessels now
building abroad, and they will be eminent
ly more practicable In endurance, strength
and formidability.
The main battery of each battleship will
be composed of four Pinch rifles In tur-
rets on the center line fore and aft similar
TO those OF the Iowa, and the secondary
batteries will mount IA and 16 rapid fire
six-inch guns. In addition to these there
will be unusually large auxiliary batteries
of assorted FOUNDER sizes, both quick fire
and semi-automatic. The 13-inch guns of
earlier battleships have been put aside in
new designs on account of their great
weight, and because 1t will be necessary
to increase materially the length Of the
12-inch calibre to meet the requirements
Of smokeless powder exclusively to be
used hereafter in the navy.
The first-class cruisers will be covered
with heavy armor from bow to stern and
will be armed with four eight-inch guns
In turrets and ten to twelve 6-inch rifles IN
broadside. They are, TO be, superior In ev-
cry way to ships afloat In the world today,
The second-class cruisers, as at first pro-
posed, were to be of 5000 tons each, but the
board added 1000 tons TO them, to be utilized
wholly in coal-carrying capacity. They
will have two eight-inch guns and ten to
twelve five-inch rapid-fres. The details
of the six smaller vessels are not yet de-
termined upon, as all the energies OF the
board were first directed to the heavier
vessels.
ALI the ships will be sheathed. They will
all have quadruple expansion engines and
water tube boilers, and with the excep-
ton of the smaller craft they will be equip
ped with underwater torpedo tubes.
The smaller cruisers will have a steam
ing radius of 1900 knots at ten-knot rate.
The second-class will nearly approach this
radius. The first-class cruisers WILL be
able to go 10000 knots, and minimum of
5000 knots is fixed for the battleships.
The board also took under advisement
the construction of two troop ships, each
capable Of transporting a regiment of 1900
men. with arms, ammunition. equipment
and supplies. It is proposed. II Congress
turns over to the navy the responsibility
of transporting troops, according to the
established usage in England and other
foreign military powers of great expert
ence, that modern armed vessels construct
ed solely for the purpose of speed and
comfortably carrying military forces, shall
be promptly built. 1t is argued that such
vessels will be Indispensable, not only in
the Pacific for changing the garrlsons at
Hawaii and Manila occasionally, but also
for Porto Rico and Cuba
British Comment
LONDON, Aug. 19.-The morning papers
comment upon the proposed immense in
crease in the American navy. The Stand
ard says:
Such fleet. operating with Manila as
base, would be able to exercise consider
able influence upon the progress of event.
in Chinese waters and, added to the Eng
1ish China squadron and the Japanese
navy, would make mighty armament in
deed
The Standard suggests that this consid-
Grafton may make Russia pause.
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