The sun., 1903-03-05
The FIVE new BATTLESHIPS.
WORK on THE PLANS TO BE
BHGUN IMMEDIATELY.
Those Of 10000 Tons wiil Probably he
similar to the Connecticut and Louisl-
ana, and Those OF Q 900 Tons May he
similar to the Maine. Missouri and Ohio.

ana, ana Iuose Ot Io,OOV U hOus "sy ne
Similar to the Maine. Missouri and Ohio.
WASHINGTON, March NAVAL officers
are jubilant over the action OF Congress
In authorizing the construction OF five
battleships to be laid down in the next
fiscal year, three OF 10 600 tons and two OF
5000 tons. Secretary Moody will imme-
diately direct the Board on Construction to
make plans for the ships. 1t has already
been practically decided that the three
ships Of 1900 tons displacement each shall
be similar to the Connecticut and Louisiana,
now under construction at the Brooklyn
navy yard and the Newport News Com
panys shipyard which are the most power
full armorclads Of the American Navy.
There are no vessels Of the American heet I,
built or building, having q displacement OF
IS, 900 tons. The nearest approach TO this
displacement Is found In the vessels OF the
Maine class, the others In that class being
the Missouri and the Ohio, which have each
a displacement OF 1880 tons. While the
members OF the board have not had the
opportunity Of giving any extended con-
sideration to the matter. II appears to be
probable from what was said to-day that
they are favorable to a proposal that the
plans for the l3.000-ton battleships shall
conform In nearly all respects to those OF
the Maine class, the chief difference being
the addition Of 500 tons to their displaoe-
ment. In other words, IL Ia proposed TO
make them larger editions OF the Maine.
the Missouri and the Ohio.
IL was predicted at the Department
day that In the probable event that the
Board on Construction decided to duplicate
the Connecticut class In the three 10 0O0-
ia for hair lafr inYl n
be reopened in three or perhaps two months.
and building operations actually begun
before the summer is over.
One Of the new 10000 -tonners will be
called the Vermont. promise that the
next battleship authorized should be named
in honor Of that State was made by the
Navy Department to Senator Proctor
some time ago. Minnesota. Kansas and
Mississippi are practically certain Of be-
ing honored also. and the selection OF the
name Of the remaining battleship lies be
tween Idaho, one Of the Carolinaa and North
Dakota.
The confsrees in charge Of the Naval
Appropriation bill greatly enlarged the
authority OF the Secretary OF the Navy
In relation to the construction OF war yes
the President to-day not only authorizes
the Secretary to build ships in navy yards
when reasonable evidence is presented OF
colusion in bids, but empowers him TO
build any or all Of the new battleships and
training ships in navy yards, in his dis
oretion. The broad authority Of the Secre-
tary 10 throw 500 1000 worth OF new
work to the Government yards and shut
out the shipbuilders. whether they are In
the trust or not, will exert powerful
leverage in securing low bids from con-
tractors
Congress has appropriated large sums
this year toward the Improvement OF the
channels leading TO Portsmouth and Mare
Island Yards Norfolk yard has a channel Of
sufficient depth to launch and complete a
battleship, and the Boston yard could ac-
quit itself creditably II it has . warship TO
construct. The improvement Of Mare lsl-
and strait Ia a simple matter Of dredging
soft mud, and win soon be completed.
That yard will then be In shape to con-
stuct a battleship. even Of the 10000 ton
class. The California delegation II at work
trying to secure q promise from Secretary
Moody that at least one OF the 10 ,00Q-ton
battleshipa and one Of the three training
ships shall be constructed at Mare Island
yard