The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-31
DESIGNS Of NEW WARSH|PS.
ZONE OF Such FIGHTING POWER
EVER BEFORE PLANNED.
rhree New Cruisers of American
Navy VIII Far outcIsss Any of
Their Kind Now Anoat-Battle-
ships VIII Also show Advance.

NEW YORK. March s0-A special to
a, Tribune from Washington says:
No warships OF such fighting power
have ever before been planned, abroad or
Al home as the three cruisers whose de-
tails have just been practically completed
~ the admirals of the naval construction
hoard. They are really formidable battle
shlps with the speed and staying powers Of
an ocean liner. Never has such a tremen-
dous battery been mounted aioat as the
california, tie Nebraska and the West
virginia will carry. Sixty-six guns con-
sttute their armament, and their maya
zines are 10 hold over 400 tons Of ammu-
milton.
The board has given these ships 1900
tons displacement. twenty-three knots
sp<ed and, with a coal bunker capacity OF
1000 tons. a steaminS radius OF 900 miles.
They Will be the only ships In the navy lit
orally armored all over. their protection
extending from below the water line above
the entire superstructure In appearance
they will mark a notable departure from
existing cruisers and battieships Of their
class, IN that they will stand much higher
out OF the water, giving better distribu-
ton OF batteries and quarters and making
them more impressive. Until congress
gives the navy department authority TO
contract for the best possible armor for
these vessels the final drawings cannot re
made, nor can shipbuilders secure all the
Information required by them to enable
the preparation OF alternative plans. The
general characteristics OF t-e ships are
now settled beyond material modification,
except that triple screw machinery may
be substituted for twin screws. The ma
chinery IL TO develop over 1900 horse-pow-
er 10 drive the ships twenty-three knots,
and this. with the standard naval water
tube boilers. must not exceed 1000 tons in
weight.
The armored protection IL to include a
water line belt OF Krupp steel six inches
thick abreast the engines and boilers, Ia
pertnE 10 three and one-half inches at
the bow and stern. Above this belt there
Win be a hve-inch casemnte extending half
the ships length. to protect ten s-inch
guns The s-inch turrets viii he six inches
thick, and coming tower nine inches and
the signal tower fve inches. The total
weight OF armor. including the four-inch
protective deck. will be i.tE tons.
Among the novelties. the lower decks
viii be covered with llnoieum, all wood
work reduced to minimum and fire.
PROCEED. the magazines covered with non
conductors OF heat and cooled by refrig-
Grating apparatus: coal bunkers arranged
for extremely rapid fiiling and cmptying;
automatic water-tight doors between all
compartments. operated from several sta
tions; fire main laid below the protective
deck. Space II provided for six months
provisions. tanks for 5000 gallons of drink
Ing water and an ice machine. Electricity
VIII operate the turret. turning gear
blowers for ventilation, mechanical bread
mixer. laundry. ammunition HOSTS. gun
ramners and air compressors for tor
pedeos.
The armament win consist OF rixty-six
guns. distributed rs follows. Main bat
terry, four eight-inch breech-loading rifles:
fourteen six-inch rapid FIRE rifles Second
airy baftery, all rapid nre. eight fourteen
Founders. twelve three-pounders.f four one