The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-08
THEIR SPEED 18 KNOTS
FURNISHED WITH BELT OF AR
NOR ~ FEET BROAD.
A FORMIDABLE ARMAMENT OF GUNS
SIX Cruisers of the Unarmored Type viii Prob
ably be Built at Once Requisiton on
Treasury for s3,O00,OOO
fur Cuban Army

Washington, March THE plans for
the three big battleships authorized by
the Naval Appropriation Bill just pass
ed are being worked out The general
features of the ships have been defined,
subject to the approval of the Secretary.
The battleships will he thousand tons
larger than the Maine and Missouri
class, of total displacement Of 1880
tons, making them by far the .lrgest
ships in the American navy and about
equal in dimensions 10 the hess type of
battleships now being constructed abroad
under the new practice. Though larger
than the Maine the ships will be laid
on almost the same lines being only
Il little greater i'll every dimension They
will carry four 12-inch guns in turretS.
ihis calibre is an inch less than the guns
carried by the Oregon. but by improved
design they will be almost equal in pene-
tratiye power. The S-inch guns of the
Oregon type, although they did very
effective work at Santiago and Manila,
have been abandoned. But instead of
S-inch guns the new ships will have no
less than sixteen 6-inch calibre, all rapid
frers, and twenty 6-pounders. The speed
Of the ships will he IS knots, an advance
Of two knots over the Oregon class, but
just equal to that of the new Maine.
For protection AGAINST 9the enemy's shot,
the hattleshps will have one belt of ar
NOR feet. 6 inches broad, running clear
around the water line. three feet, six
inches above and four feet below
Altogether there is Il notable absence
Of new features in the designs of the
battleships which fact taken in connec-
ton with the small amount of progress
represented in the designs for the Maine
rlass may be an indication that our
naval designers have very nearly ap-
preached the ideal battleship in their
work. AS far as these particular ships
are concerned, the fact that the Navy
Department is limited to $500 per ton in
The purchase of armor makes it impossi-
jle to build them III the absence Of furth-
or legislation, and the department will
be obliged to content itself with the
mere preparation Of detailed plans during
The coming summer.
The six cruisers of the unarmored
type provided for can, however, be
built, as chief constructor Hichborn has
already been working out the designs
lpon lines approved by the Board OF
Bureau Chiefs. 1t is the purpose of the
Navy Department to place contracts for
these ships at the earliest possible mo-
ment. They represent a type of cruisers
which would be of the greatest value
just now for our foreign service. The
plans call for vessels of about $500
tons. and the ships will be improved
Marbleheads. so TO speak, being 600
tons larger than ships of that class, and
with better batteries and more coal capa-
city. A most important consideration is
hat they will he sheathed with wood
over the steel hull and fully cOppered, en-
ahling them to keep the seas even in
tropical waters for many months without
being under the necessity of seeking Il
dry dock. The battery will be made up
nf six 5-inch guns for each ship. The
cost is to be considerably more than that
of the Marblehead, which was $674 600
for the amount allowed by Congress was
| 81 .141 800 each. This difference is ac-
counted for by the many improvements
made in the Marblehead's designs, no
table one being the use of water tube
| boilers. giving much greater speed and
economy.
TO PAY THE CUBAN ARMY.
Washington. March Although the
| Cabinet was in session to-day an hour
longer than usual. the entire time was
occupied III the discussion of compara-
lively unimportant details. The Secre-
| Itary of War stated that he had made Il
reouistion on the Treasury Department
for $4,000, 600 with which to pay the
| Cuban army. and an installment of this
| sum will he sent at once to Havana for
| distribution.
Treasury officials say the S3,000,000
to be paid the Cubans will be made up
of S1.540.O00 in five dollar gold pieces;
SL300,000 in silver dollars; $4,000 in
fifty cent pieces; $4,000 in quarters;
So. 900 in dimes, and $4,000 in nickels
This allotment of the various sums Is
in accordance with the wishes of the
| Cuhanc thnncplVpS