The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-08
LARGER THAN THE MAINE.
sixteen 6-Ineh Rapid Eirera and
Twenty 1-POunders - Cannot Ne
Built Vntil Armar Is Provided.

WASHINGTON, March The plans for
she three big hat,lcships authorized by the
naval appropriation bill iust passed are
being worked out The gcnsrai features OF
the ships have been defined. subject To the
approval OF the secretary OF the navy. The
ha:tleships viii be a Thousand tons larger
than tAe Maine aad Missouri class, Of a
total displacement; OF ia5eo tons making
them by far the largest ships in the Amer
lean navy and about equal in dimensions
20 the best type OF ha.,iesaips now being
constructed abroad under the new prac-
tice. i
Though larger than the Maine the ships
VIII he laid on almost the same lines. be-
ing only a little greater in every d;men-
sicn. They will carry each four is-inch
guns in turre,s. The caliber IL an Inch less
than the guns carried by The Oregon. but
by improved design they viii he almost
equal in penetrat!ve power. The s-inca
guns OF the Oregon type, although they
dsd very effective work at Sanllsgo and
Manila have been abandoned. But In
stead OF eight s-inch guns the new ships
viii have no less than sixteen guns os g.
inch caliber. all rapid firers, and twenty
s-pounders. This battery represents tho
ideal proportion between guns as taught
by the experience OF our own fleet during
the Spanish war. and OF the Chinese and
Japanese vessels during their late war.
The speed Of the ships vail be eighteen
knots, an advance OF two knots over tho
Oregon class. but just equal 10 that of the
new Maine.
For protection against the enemy's shot
the battieships will have but one belt of
armor seven feet six inches broad, Running
clear around the water line. three feet six
inches above and four feet below. II was
originally planned to have this armor six
teen inches thick. bgt the designers have
now reduced the thickness 10 twelve
inches This change was made In order 10
strengthen the easements which viii be
made seven and half inches thick. instead
Of five inches.
Altogether there is notable absence of
new features In the designs Of the battle
ships, which fact. taken In connection with
tile small amount OF progress reported In
the designs for the Maine class may be- an
Indication that our naval designers have
very nearly approached the Ideal battle
ship fl .heiT work.
As far as these particular ships are con-
cerned. the fact lha, the navy department
is limited 10 SsDu per ton In the purchase
OF armor plate makes il impossible 20 bui;i
them in the absence OF further legislation
and the department will be obliged 10 con
tent itself with the mere preparation II
detailed plans during the coming summer
The SIX cruisers cf tho unarnaorea type
provided for can. however. ne Aaiit and
Chief Constructor Hichhorn has ALREADY
been working out the designs ussyn Tines
approved ty ths board of bureau ehiess
II II the purpose of the navy department
TO place contracts for the ships af the
earliest possible moment. They represent
a type ~ cruiSer which would be % the
greatest vaiae ttist now for our foreign
sry.ce The plans cal. for vessels % ab.si,
900 TOMS and the ships Will hc I'm
proved Marhleheasis 50 30 speak belng
q" tons larger than ships of that class.
and wifh better batteries and mere coal
capacity. A nsnSt important consideration
ss they will Re sshsathed with wcci over
the steel huii and fully coppefed. en-
abling shesn 20 keep the eeas even in
tropical waters for many months without
being compelled Ia seek a arydork The
battery wfn be made up of sss aYe-.nch
eune fer each chip. The cost all ls cen.
sissevanEy more than tsYai ri the Marble
head which wss 81. 90. for the amount
This difference is accgantea s1r hy tas
many improvements made IN the Marble
seaf's design. a notable ore beng the
psss of water tss1se lsesisFs, giving meeh
greater speed and economy