The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-20

is provided for in Admiral RTadf0Td's bat
terry fires 3.5 rounds. has i muzzie energy
of % 453 foot tons. and throws $50 pounds
Of metal in one minute
Attention is called to the greatly su-
perior tactical advantages" Of the min
ority's battery, the illustration clearly
showing that this type of ship can be
fought advantageoUsly in any formation"
Admiral Bradford argues that his battery
shouIdsee adopted 10 preserve the homo
geniety of the feet He says that the ma
jOrity battery corresponds only with the
Alabama and the Maine classes and does
not hesitate TO assert that these ships
possess a weak battery and the omission
of S-inch guns from their armament is
much regretted BY the best informed Of
dCers of the navy" There are six vessels
Of these classes armed only with Finch
and s-inch guns. the latter in bToadside.
there are eleven ships built and building
having 8-inch guns mounted in turrets.
A review Of foreign naval construction
is given to show that the European naval
powers adhere to large calfbres, and then
follows this statement:
To the uuprofessionaI mind it might
perhaps appear to be good plan to build
varying types Of ships. in order 10 make
sure that some one type shall be the best
This would be a great error, since nothing
is worse than a patchwork 1eet, some OF
one kind and others Of another The wis
dom of adopting the S-iuCh gun part
Of the battery Of our battIeships has been
clearly demonstrated, and is being rapid
~ followed by foreign nations. No reduc-
ton in calibre should be entertained.
Some space is devoted to the finch gun.
IN which attention is called to the fact
that there is no such weapon Admiral
Bradford then takes NJ the important
question of superposed tCrrets- He in
vites attention to the fac that Admiral
O'EeiI voted for the armament Including
guns in supeTposed turrets} adopted for
the FIVE battIeships OF the Virginia class
and to the opinion Of the officers Of the
Kearsarge and the Kentucky, which have
slIperp0sed turrets in favor Of that type
The unfavora BILE criticisms of the su-
perposed turret. are. thus far, purely the
oretical." says Admiral Bradford. In
practice they have fulfilled every expec-
tation Of theft advocates"
The installation Of the twenty finch
guns Of the majorty's battery behind
easements and separated by splinter bulk
heads is criticised as being directly IL Va
rance with the present system abroad.
Attention Is called to the crowded condi-
tiOn Of the guns on the main deck Of the
maJority's ship, and the probable effect
Of a Pinch melinite OF Iyddite shell cx-
rIodiug anywhere in the vicinity Of the
guns
admiral Bradford concurs with the ma
jotity as to the general type OF ship rec
commended In conclusion he says
The armament Of the ships Of the Viz
ginia class was assigned only after the
most careful consideration and discussion
by many of the ablest officers Of the
navy ! consider it very unfortunate that
the majority Of the Board on Construction
should now recommend an armament for
additional battIeships so different IN cali
bre and so differently disposed, protected,
and mounted The natural effect Will be
d loss of confidence in the knowledge Of
the board as to the type OF battIeship best
suited for naval purposes
! therefore recommend the most care
full consideration of the subject by the
best authorities the department is able to
command