New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-15
c. S. S. NEW-JERSEY.
IN RE THE LARGEST BATTLEsHIP IN THE
NAvY-WORK BEGUN ON HER
AT FORE RIVER

BOSTON, Sept. Il (speciaD.-Work has already
begun on q vessel which. when completed will
make Il impossible to say that American battle
shin ahoat bears the OF Middle Atlantic
state The Fore River Ship and Engine Company
is constructing, at its yard on Quincy Point in
BOSTON Harbor, the United States steamer New
Jersey and her sister ship. the United States
steamer Rhode Island already distinguished as the
largest battleships ordered for the American navy
and as the efficient heavyweight fighters build
ing for any navy IN the world.
A number OF novel features mark this new class
II the first place the New-Jersey and her sister shin
will be very long for battleships, having a length
m the load waterline Of less than s35 feet At
feet IN excess OF any other battleshp in the Amer
lean Navy and an extreme breadth the water
line OF &c feet 211 inches-tust four feet greater
than any of the others. The New-Jersey will be
what IS technically called q sea going coastline
first class battleship." which means. as indicated
by the notable case of the Oregon ability to go
round the Horn, a feat which the New-Jersey
should be able accomplish in even less time than
that ship, since her contract speed is nine
teen knots. faster than anything of her class we
have almost two knots faster than the illinois,
which now holds the record.
Her armament will be something terrific a broad
side discharge throwing less than $500 pounds
IN steel projectes following the American practice
OF great fighting power in proportion to the size
Of the ship The main battery will consist first OF
four OF the 12-inch 4O-calibre guns mounted
IN pairs balanced turrets which will each have
an ARC Of train" Of go degrees; or in other words
their turrets can be swung around for three-Quar-
tiers OF circle. There will be one turret forwa I'd
and turret aft. These 12-inch guns are OF a new
type, which surpasses in effective strength the
13-nch guns which the Oregon, carries There Will
also be IN the main battery eight S-inch 45-calIbre
guns OF which four are in superposed turrets above
the Pinch guns. two guns in each: while the other
four are IN Two turrets anidshps one on either
beam All these have an arc of train OF $50 degrees
half circle. Twelve 6-inch 5O-calibre rapid fire
guns will be mounted, six q side. on the main
deck, with an re of train OF 10 degrees Twelve
l4-pounder and twelve 3-pounder guns will be dis
tr1buted in commanding positions about the ship
with as large an arc OF train possible with the
object OF guarding against torpedo boat attacks
ERcn OF the lower tops OF the two military nasts
veritable fortresses in themselves VIII have two
automatic 1-pounders, and there will be two single
shot 1-pounders in each OF the upper tops also
FOR repelling the mosquitoes OF the sea" Two
underwater discharge torpedo tubes located in
compartment, for the discharge OF the 1914
foot Whitehead torpedoes. Will make the New
Jersey q dangerous customer at close quarters
without risk 10 herself IS the case when torpedo
tubes are placed above the water line All IN.
turrets viii be controlled and operated and the
guns fred by electricity