Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-12-02
Norfolk Landmark Holds Thatit
Should be a Bat'lcship.
CASE OF TRANSPORTATION
Destruction The New Cru;s, VIII
BE. Equal to IA Battleship With
Much Greater Speed.

The Norfolk Landmark is opposed -
raining one Of the powerful new c.uiS-
ers, soon 70 lie provided for, after the
State Of Virginia. The Landmarks 20
sltion, however. seems to be taken nsn1 c
through ignorance of the dimensions
and power of the new ships than any
serious objections it may have to tho
chris tening Of 4 cruiser after Virginia.
several days ago the Richmond News
endorsed in its editorial columns In"
plan set 4 big cruiser named after the
Old Dominion instead Of Waiting an
ether year or TWO before more battle
lships ;;rc authorized.
The Landmark. commenting on the
News editorial, says:
'0nc of the ships in our navy ought.
undoubtedly TO i,c named after Viz
Sina; but the snip SO named ought 20
BE- u battlcship. One uf the first bat
llcships turned out should have Dcci,
chrst.ncd Virginia. on account of tn"
fact that this state, taking it's rccu1t,
IL; Il whole. is the most conspicuous III
The Union. 1t w;ls in Virginia that the
first permanent English settlement WAS
made: it is from Virginia llat the
country has taken more Presidents
than from any other state.
But We say tina. unless the govern
mcnt can see its way to hnnoring the
| Old Dominion by manning: 81 !,tlttieSh:D
after. it, it should be allowed TO so else
Whelc 70 find names fol. its arnlprcu
icruiscrS. y Very good plan would De
| To utilize the Territories for that pu--
pose. tnr instance. we might have the
|armorei cruiser Hawaii. the armorcd
|cr'liser '2klt,hunl;l,' the ;.rmored cruiser
| Alaska. and so on through the list. (
Kentucky. Alabama, Texas Iowa. Ill-
nnis. Oregon and Massachusetts are
good enough to have their names APP
|p!iel tn ioattleships. certainly Virginia.
| is If New York city got her name OF,
an arnnred cruiser and thus destroyed
the chances Of New York State 70 Ecs
| her name on any naval vessel, it is not
the fault Of Virginia.
is the News sure that the tonnag.e
Of the new armorell cruisers is to BE- 10
SEQ? That seems tremendous for YES
sci of the cruiser class. We havn no
|bAttleShip of greater displacement than
$1,000 tons. and if any nation Of Europe
mas Il cruiser Of as much as 10000 tons
we do not recall lAv:ns
heard Of it. At any rate, there must
De some distinct line OF demarl1G1icr
between the cruiser, even Of the he;vi-
|tSt aEu best type, and the filst-c,lss
Fattleship. Virginia deserves to awe
| her name on one of the ships OF the
NerE-AiShest class, and our idea of the
Very highest class is the battleship OF
the first order. II we are mistaken
mere, we are open TO correction. Give
! Virginia q share in the best. gentlemen
OF che Navy Department. or coniu.ue
to leave her out in the cold"
According TO the details given ;1ul ly
the naval chiefs in Washington the dis
placement Of the ,ew cruisers wlll be
at least l3.3o0 tons AMI may BE ill
creased TO 1900 tons when the tina!
plans are agreed upon. The Secretary
Of the Navy Will purposely omit bnttlc-
IN !,
port in order that the three new ciuls-
erS may be built 70 equa: any arm ored
shlps OF their class ;stioal today. IN CT
Ger TO erfect the details Of these c:.a elk
vessels, it Will be necessary for tn. ma
Val chiefs to give most Of their time
70 the work and when they have finish
cd plans Will be ready for three ships
winch vii! cost more than any vessel
ever contracted for in the United States
navy and Will be equa! in armament
ar!nor and equipment 70 the powerful
arnolad cruisers Powerful and Terri;
bic. in The British navy
1t is learned on good authority tina t
me recommendation OF the Secretary of
the Navy Will be about IS follows con-
cefnlnS the armored cruisers:
Ihrec sheathed and coppcred arm
ol'@d cruisers of about la,5OO tons trial
EGusplactn@nt. carrying the heaviest
ariGoi' and most powerful ordnance for
'csse'S OF their class, and TO have tie
Hlshest practical speed and great ra-
aus OF action. TO cost, exclusive of
alnloT and armament. 81. 500 900 each"
Il VIII be Motel tha, the contract
price 81 these SHIPS Will he upwards 81
s..'op.GuO greater than halllcShips IF the
kentucky Illinois and Eiissouri classes
II VIII even be greater. it is believed.
tAan IN" three rev Eattlcships au1ilor-
E.u oE the last Congress.
Inc speed of the new cruisers. i; is
learned, viii Ee o: knots Their guns
are expected TO b" heavier than those
carried by the cruisers Brooklyn ana
New York and it is not at all unlikely
nat the le-inch gun: SO popular abroad
Will find place in their main tu,re,.,
! .aeS Will be protected With kruDp
;if!nor. In fact. they will be almos: az
powerful rs our battlcsllps Of TODAY
;ti.d viii be the fastest ar,nnred ves
Scls atioat. No pains or expense Nijl
nc spared TO make these ships the p.lde
|"i the navy and if the present idea 81
.he department is carried out it VIII
Dc some time before better ships ar.
tufncd cut in this country. No iyat,le
snip could be more worthy of bearing
the name Virginia than one of ,hcs,,
splendid cruisers.
rut Yonr Money to Work.