Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-30
THE BIGGEST BATTLESHlPS
Arrangements for America to Have Three
Built Immediately,
They are 10 be OF $4,000 Tons DIS
placement and TO Cost $4,000
900 Each.

New York, Dec. S0.--A special 10 the
Tribune from Washington says De-
signs for the greatest battleehps ever
projected for the American navy We're
agreed upon by the naval board OF con-
structlon today after several months OF
discussion over the important questions
of battery. armor speed. coal capacity
and displacement. The three new vel-
sels--to be called the GeorCll, The New
Jersey and the Pennsylyania-wlil equal
IN formldabllity the finest line Of pa'uf'
ships yet laid down by any ioieisa
power. and, with the addition OF 'yoi-
cal American improvements, will sur
pass in fighting force any ships now
aloat
The salient features Of the design con-
template displacement Of approx
ma,ely 1900 tons as compared with the
oregon's LOCO, or the new Names r.
300 The speed is TO be at least ~
knots" with a coal bunker capacity OF
1000 tons.
There will be two superimposed tur-
refs one fore and the other aft, each
| containing two l2.inch and two S-lnch
| guns OF the new elongated bore ana
! high. smokeless powder velocity. The
remaining guns Of the main battery VIII
| consist of twelve siX-inch quick IRE in
! broadside. This arrangement Of bat
terry has been finally adopted Instead
Of an alternative plan which provided
for four l2-inch guns In turiets ana
| slyfsen sX-lnch br0adside which had
| been nut forward to avoid the expedient
! az euperfinposed turrets. The tw0-story
turT-cts. which are a disiinctively Amer
lean innovation. a. applied to The kear.
! cargo and the Kentucky, are regarded
as no longer OF doubtful success, ana
n Is known that foreign governments
| are preparing to adopt thef2 60 ~ We
the Condemnation and angle Of fire Inoy
secure. which Is unapproaehed By any
other expedlent.
The board also definitely determined
,non the use OF the most modern
Kruppized grmor for the new vessels
its nfeclse distribution to be decided
upon after the chief constructor has
made sufficient progress with the ac'
tual plans 80 determine the proper ar
| ranrement OF weights. The armOi
problem has been the most difficult q
solve. and 70 tbs cause Is otlibutable
the delay In planning the ships The
act authorizing the vessels was ap.
proved on March OF this year, and u
stimulated that no contract should %
made for any portion OF the vessels un'
an a contract was made for the armor
Congress having limited the cost o.
arnor 10 the ridiculous price OF $500
ION. n was evident from the beginning
thai no satisfactory ship could be bull
under such restriction, and for tina
raason the plans have been discussed
with unusual elaboration.
AZ the weight Of ar-nor entering Int
these ships was very large Item, th'
question OF the adoption OF Krupp OF
tlnfocer Haryeylzed material was ex
tnemely important. THE can b
readily appreciated from the fact ,ha
roughly 1000 tons Of the former tth'
approximate weight required for eacl
| battleship) Is equivalent, as regard
resistance 20 penetration, 60 1900 OF IN
, latter. The adoption, therefore, OF tn
material treated by the Krupp process
meant that 600 tons Of weight woul'
be available for distribution amonl
! other vital characteristics OF battleshl
weight OF propelling machlner,
(speed), armament. coal carrying ca
! paclty and draught.
, The total cost OF each OF these thre
, chips when ready for sea will excee
r 81 600 900 each. They VIII cruise seve
, thousand miles straightaway, an
|, there will not be three ships OF simila
offensive and defensive strength In tn
I feet OF any possible enemy.