The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-10-24
FOR FASTER BAHLESH|PS
\ NEW NAVAL PROGRAM HAS
BEEN ADOPTED.
Eighteen Knots to be the Minimum
Speed, With Corresponding Dis
placement and Engine Power.

Mail advices from Washington ID. c.,
state that the question of the speed
of the three battleships provided for
the new naval program has been re-
opened again. 1t was supposed that
the matter had been settled when the
Secretary of the Navy announced
few weeks ago that the preference
would be given in awarding the con-
tracts for the construction of the new
vessels to the bidders who offered
guarantees of the highest speed, re-
tanning the general characteristics of
design as set forth in the depart
ment's circular.
1t is proposed now to change these
designs completely, to drop every
thing that has been done, and start
all over again with the intention of
making the new vessels larger than
was intended and speedier, and con-
sequently, costlier. TO do this will re-
quire an amendment to the law pro-
yiding for the building of the three
battleships. That law says they shall
be a displacement of about II. 900
tons" and shall not cost more than
S3,OO0,0G0 each. The board of con
structiou decided to make the dis
displacement 800 tons, which it
considered was as far as it could 90
and keep within the law. When the
plans first were under discussion the
board unanimously agreed to make
the ships practical repetit'ons of the
Illinois type, with such improvements
rs could be added without materially
modifying that type. The speed was
to be sixteen knots.
The proposition now under consd-
GRAFTON is to give the proposed ships
a displacement of $4,000 tons instead
of 1880 and to fix Their minimum
speed at IS knots instead of IL. Chief
Engineer Melville has been asked to
submit designs of the navy and i'm
proved machinery, including water
tube boilers, which he opposes to in
stall, with a view to developing an IS
knot speed. Thesr designs ready.
Chief Constructor Hioh BORN will set
Bureau of Construction and Repair to
work on designs for & hrIl TO accomo-
date that machinery, with the rcquis-
lite coal space and desire batteries.
The new scheme contemplates a
main battery of twelve-inch and
eight--inch guns. instead of thirteen
designs, this change being prompted
also by the lessons learned from the
Santiago engagement.
y further, and most important
change proposed to be made in the
new ships is the addition of copper
sheathing. At recent meeting the
board voted unanimously to have the
new H2ttleships sheathed. with view
to prevent fouling of their bottoms
and loss of speed resulting therefrom.
This is reversal of the boards posi-
ton on the sheathing question. It
has stood heretofore three to one
against sheathing the bottoms of the
battleships, Commodore Hichborn
being the only advocate of the reform.
The experience of the fleet in South
ern waters during the late war. when
the battleships and cruisers steadily
lost what speed they started with as
the result of marine growth on their
bulls, has convinced the board that
costly as the sheathing is. it will be
economical in the long run. since it
will enable the ships to retain their
speed for an indefinite period.