Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-05-03

length. That is, 1t is sharp-prowcd,
and the freeboard, or the distance from
the sheatled deck to the water line. is
very slight. 1t Is almost awash. as
they say mt sea. When in motion this
forward deck is usually under water.
If the vessel picks Il bone in her teeth
1t would certainly be washed by the
waves caused by swift motion.
The vessel has dimensions approx
mating those of the warship OF the
Texas type. She is about $50 feet over
al, with about forty feet beam. The
warship has Il proportion OF one III flve
between length and beam. Thus the
Wisconsin,, with trifie under 4tO feet
in length, would have some sixty-five
feet in width. Gathmann's ship has
this proportion extended to about one
In seven. The reason for this Is to in
crease the speed capacity. She Is con-
structed aft Of the urmOr belt AMI gun
station much like the torppdO-bOat OF
to-day, with II curved deck reaching
down to the water line and curved
stern. Her propeller wells are covered.
Speed of Thirty knots.
She Is of light steel construction. fol-
lowing the modern method OF using
thin metal in preference to heavy TIM
ber But her sides arc not protected
against an ordinary field rifle Of to-day.
She could be hulled IT broadside on by
an old-time understanding, smooth
bore. Her speed Is to be not under
twenty three, and in forced draught
may run up to thirty knots. Speed ami
the low freeboard are her strong
points. She presents almost no target.
and is SO swift as to be able to choose
her own position for attack.
The main dependence Of the Gath.
mann warship is. of course, its battery.
Back of one single plate of armor will
he mounted gun which will throw
600 pounds of gun-cotton at the enemy
a. each fire. The shell will leave the
muzzle at the rate of 1000 feet sec
Ond. a single discharge OF this gun
will be equal to Il broadside from the
Oregon, or about 25.OW foot tons. One
shot well directed. Mr.. Gathmann be-
lieves, will wreck the most formidable
armored warship ever constructed.
Two or three guns will he mounted on
the main battery, each with bore OF
sixteen inches.
One Of the peculiar features Of the
Gathmann ship Is its sO-called armor
belt. The vessel has no arinor proper,
hut a part Of it Is protected by an ar
NOR belt, This belt rises to a point a
trific above the roof of the after portion
Of the ship. 1t Is placed OH Mt an acute
angle with the lateral diameter Of the
ship. The angle is placed farthest for
and to the sides of the ship. The belt
also curves from the deck plane back
ward to it's highest extremity. Thus
any shot not delivered squarely Mt right
angles to the arm Of the belt, and with
a plunge sufficient to overcome the
backward slope, no matter how fiercely
delivered. will not even start rivet.
1t will inevitably glance Off, because
full impact Is relatively impossible.
The belt being placed far enough aft
to pass the point Of equilibrium may be
made as heavy and as impenetrable as
science can devise.
The vessel lies so low in the water
that with an ordinary sea on she would
be practically invisible great portion
of the time in action. Its superior
specials great IA that Of any torpedo
boat atiOat-wOuld enable this ship to
choose its own position In hight
against any heavy. unwieldy warship
of to-day. She could sail nil around
such fort ON water. and could always
present her bows to the enemy. thus
materially reducing target surface, ana
also presenting her protected deck
alone to attack.