The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-19
SHIP SLIPS
 FROM WAYS Launching of the West Virginia.
 f. IS AN ARMoRED CRUISER
Miss Katherine White Chris
 tens the Vessel.
A. Newport News 5000 Persons See the sister of the California and the p.nnsylvania Take Water
 German Captain Speaks

Newport News, va Ap 1yni,ed states armored cruiser ".s
 n,sf.., launched at the Newport News "s,a s,,,a,nr wards today in the presepes of a throng of 2Sooo parsons. A napeant in whtch military compaA
 ,ron, several Virginia colleges anu ,a ,,,,srv detachmeuts from Ft, Monroe anu ,h. officers mafines and sailors oi .n. cerman cru.ser Gazelle preceaeo 'ne ,.I,.chinr.
 Miss Katharine Vaughan White, eloes. daughter of Governor Albert B. whi'e o, West virgini3. was the sponsor ol .ne west Virginia, christening the warsh'p with a bottle of champagne as the cruiser slinned dowa the ways into the water oi the James River. =
 On the platform behind the new war ship was q distinguished assemplase. ih- ciuding Governor White of west virslh'a' Governor Montague Of Virginia ms sec retary and stan, United States Senator and Mrs. Martin, Assistant Secretary or The Navy Darling, Rear Admirals O'Neiii, Bradford and Taylor Capt. S. c. LemIy. M. D. 6.Connell, Solicitor of the Treas ury; Representatives Hull of Iowa. Can ,en of Illinois, Danton and Dovener of West Virginia, and ex-Senator Charles l.. Faulkner of West Virginia: A pleas ant incident of the day was the exchange of coprtesies between, the, United States navaE officers ana the officers and men sf the German warship Gaselle, .-.5 :. Are Rendered Banquet, .s
 When the ceremonies were over Presi- aent orcutt escorted the guests. apurnhers Ing about 5oo persons, to the stsapapaat Newport News. ahosrd whtef-the party went to old Point Comfort. where they were rendered a baneuet. s. <. ..sllf ,, ,.4ssss
 Among the distinguished guests present were Governor White of West Virginia, and military stan. and Governor Mon- tague and stan. officers of the army and navy and prominent citizens of the two virginias President orcutt was toast master.
 Others. present were Senators ElhIns and Scott of West Virginia and Represep- tatives Dovenor. Gaines. Woodward. Hughes and Dayton of the same State; Hon. H. c. Davis,. George W. Stevens, Decatur Affitell. L. F, Sullivan. John Ekelton Williams, Virginius Newton and Arthur B. Clark.
 In an extempore speech at the banquet. Count von Oriol, commander of the Ger man cruiser Gazelle expressed his grati- fication at the cordial treatment he had received at the hands of American naval officers wherever. he had met them. and the hope that the friendly relations be- tween the nations would continue for ever.
 DsoIiption of the Ship.
 The West Virginia, which is a sister ship to the California and Pennsylvania. is an armored cruiser of 14.0o0 tons dis- placement. The hull is of steel and meas ures on load water line 5o2 feet extreme beam 69 feet 6 12 inches. The vessel has a normal displa of fs.677 tons, with all ammunition and stores on board of l5.10i tons. The designed indicated horse power of the cruiser is 23,o00, to produce a speed of 2 knots With complement of 4 officers and 7s3 seamen and marines the vessel will be the floating home of ssO men.
 Five feet below and four feet above the normal load line from stem to stern tho cruiser will have an arnnor belt six inches thick at the top and five inches at the bottom. For a depth of six feet from the top the maximum thickness will be pre- served. The Hichborn balanced oval tur- rets will be covered with armour six and one-half inches thick on the port plate and six inches on the sides and rear.
 The main battery of the West Virginia will consist of four S-inch breech-loading rifles mounted two in each turret on the center line of the vessel. In addition there are fourteen 6-iich rapid fire guns and a secondary battery of eighteen B. inch. four 1-pounder automatic guns. four l-pounder rapid fire, six automatics two machine gums and two 3-ineh field guns