Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-08
THE NEW BAr1LEsHIPs.
They VIII Nc Ut3Rrr Than tho Orc
e"n ana Wit Ne Two k""ts
EnStcr.

WASHINGTON March The plans for
HE ttirc. htg hat;lo&hIps authorized hy the
naval appropriation hill just passed are he
ing worked uus. The general features or
The ships have bcen defined. subject TO the
approval oi the secretary. The hatil"SbipS
viii I've a Thousand tons larger than tho
Maine and Missouri class. OF IA total dis
placement OF 1850 tons. making them by
far the largest ships in the America navy.
aud about equal in dimensions to the best
I!pc oi aatticships ROM being constructed
aaroad Under the new Practice, Though
larger ihaa the Maine. the ships viii lee
laid Oh almost the sam. lines. being only a
httic greater in every dimension. They viii
carry each four Finch guns in tarrcis.
This Cai!hcr is an inch less than the guns
carried hy the oregon. but 10y improved
design they Will lac almost equal i'll rene-
tratsNc power.
Santiago ard Mari;i have been abandoned.
Instead ot eght-inch guns. the new snips
viii lave no tcW,:' than sixteen rrraa OF
s,X-!nch Ualilri, All rapid-iirinG. and twen-
~ s!N-pounG.rs. This battery represents
the ;deai proportion between guns. a$
laugh, by the experience OF our OWN fees
uurlEg the Spanish war and OF the chinese
ami Japanese Vessels during their late War.
knots an advance of two knots over the
oregon class, hut just equal 10 Jiat Of the
new Maine. For protection against the
enemy shot. the batiieships VIII have hut
\
| broad, running clear around the water line.
thre. fee. six inches above ard four feet
below. u was originally planned TO have
thIs armour sixteen inches thick. but the
designers have low reduced the thickness
10 iwe!.e inches. This cnarSe was made
IN "tIer 10 strengthen the easements.
which VIII be made seven and half inches
thick instead vf ;ye inches.
A.toSeih"r there is Il notable absence OF
new features. in the designs Of the battle
shil's which fact. taken ir connection with
me small amount of progress renoi,ed in
n" designs for the Maine class may he
an Indication that our naval designers have
Ne!. hra:!E approached the ideal battle
ship in their work. AS far as these partic-
navy Department is limited 10 500 per
ton IN the purchase of arnlor makes il I'M
possible 10 build them, i'll III" absence Of
further legislation. and the department VIII
be obliged to content itself with the mere
preparation Of detai!ed plans during the
coming summer. Tie six cruisers Of the
1n2rmored type provided for can, however.
be built. and Chief Constructor Hichborn
has already been working out the designs
upon lines approved by the board of bureau
chiefs.
TO place contracts for these ships at the
eariio~t possible moment. They represent
type of cruiser which would he of the great
est VAIN" Just now for our foreign service.
tons. ard the ships will be improved Mar
hl.heads. so 10 speak. being go tons larger
than shps OF that class and with better
batteries and more coal capacity. A most
he sheathed with wood over the steel hull.
and fully coppered. enabling them to keep
the seas. even in tropical waters. for many
months without being compelled to seek a
dry dock. The battery will be made up of
six =-inch guns for each ship. The cost is
expect 10 be considerably more than that
tn" amount allowed by congress was sllH,-
SO each.