Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-08-28
THE new VARSHIPS.
The Connecticut and Louisiana VIII
Garry Powerful Guns.
The CHINESE CREW OF The PEKlyC.
The Question Whether They Can Serve o.
the Korea Referred to Attorney Gen.
eral-Tslsgraph Line In Alaska
The 0unb0at Topeka

Washington, Aug. 27.-The Con
necticut and Louisiana, the two new
battleships authorized by the last
naval appropriation bill, will carry
the most powerful guns, measured
by caliber, in the world. With the
building Of each new set Of battle.
ships Admiral O'Neil, chief OF the
bureau Of ordnance, has tried to in
crease the power Of the main bat
teries and for the Connecticut and
Louisiana he intends to increase the
length Of the big turret guns to As
calibers. Heretofore the longest
naval guns built have been only 40
times their caliber. Not only will
this lengthening Of the guns increase
their efficiency as to range and We
locity land therefore penetrating
power), but 1t will constitute q dis
tinct advantage to the ships. The
muzzles Of guns Of 40 calibers when
swung broadside just reach the rail,
and the side blast when fred pre-
vents the use Of secondary guns i'm
mediately below. By increasing the
length to As calibers the muzzles Of
the guns are carried well out board.
Some improvements also will be
made to secure higher initial We.
locity.
Tho Chinese Crow Of the Picking.
Washington, Aug. 27.-The ques-
ton Of whether the Chinese crew Of
the wrecked steamer Picking, now
on their way to San Francisco to
ship on the new steamer Korea,
which is to serve on the Pacific, can
DO permitted to do so under the
alien contract labor laws has been
referred to the attorney general for
determination. Commissioner Gen.
eral Sargent, Of the immigration bu-
reau, has, received full statements Of |
the case from the sailors union Of |
San Francisco and from the Pacific
Mail Steamship company, who own
the Korea, and the question raised
as to the status of these Chinese
sailors is Of such Importance that
Mr.. Sargent and Assistant Secretary
Taylor agreed that justice to all con-
cerned demanded that 1t be referred
to the attorney general for his opin-
lon.
A Telegraph Line In Alaska Opened.
Washington, Aug. 27.-Mai. Richard
p. Thompson, acting chief of the
signal office Of the war department,
received a telegram yesterday an
nouncing that the army telegraph
line between Fort Liscum, at Port
Valdez and Fort Egbert, at Eagle
City, Alaska, which has been in
course of construction for nearly ~
years, has been opened. This is well
'ome intelligence to the officers Of
he signal corps, for now all that is
needed for the complete opening up
o communication OF the Yukon ter
'itory is the successful installation
IT the wireless systems, for which
ontracts have been let.
he Topeka to be Used In Wireless Tests.
Washington, Aug. 27.-The gun.
'oat Topeka which is on her way
orth from Venezuela, will be used
n the wireless telegraph tests. She
viii go to Norfolk for repairs and
'ill be equipped with a mast for
,ireless telegraph purposes, after t
Mich she will be used in establish ]
1g communication between the e
hore at Annapolis and the sea. ]
alter another vessel will be assigned s
, work with her in sea communities O
on. d