The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-22
FOR A 2o,00O-TON BATTLESHlP.
NAVAL EXPERTS NOW PREPAR-
ING PLANS FOR 1T.
when Completed It VIII Eclipse ANY Fight
ing Machine Afioat-The Battery to
Consist OF Ten l1-Inch Guns ana
10 Of the New 1.Inch Quick Firms Guns

COnflBt OF IGt Suho e'fu
10 OF the New 1.Inch Quick Firms Guns
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2l.-The experts OF
the United States Navy are preparing
MANS for a new battleship which, when
completed, will eclipse any fighting machine
now in existence. The battleship will
he OF from $4,000 to 10000 gross tonnage,
hut tho most radical departure will be in
respect to armament. Instead OF, as now,
arming the vessel with a main battery OF
heavy guns and graduating the rest OF
her armament from 6-inch rifles down to
six. three and one Founders in her second
battery, the new ship will carry only two
types OF naval ordnance. Her main battery
will consist OF ten pinch guns the heaviest
now in use In the American Navy, placed
In turrets and in broadsides, and her secon-
Diary battery will be made up entirely OF
at least twenty Of the new 3-inch quick
firing guns.
While the plans for the new and massive
ship of war have not yet been completed
and will not be for some time, and although
they can be considered, at best, in view OF
the construction and other problems in
yolyed, only tentative, the greatest interest
surroupds the contemplated new departure
IN battleship construction and armament
arrangement, and naval experts are watch
ing with considerable anxiety the working
out OF the difficult problems which must
be met and cong ered before the plans OF
such a fighting machine AZ that contem-
plated can be put in shape for AUTHORIZE
ton by Congress.
II Ia conceded that battery Of ten IL
inch guns would constitute the most formi-
dable floating armament tfrnt at present
exists for long range combat with vessels
OF a similar type, while the secondary bat
terry Of s-inch guns would, 1t is, believed,
form the most formidable possible defence
fact. the naval experts Of the United States
sorne time ago brought the 3-inch gun to
such a state OF perfection that 1t Is now
being introduced generally, replacing the
one, three, six, twelve and fourteen-pound,
the secondary batteries Of ships OF war.
The inch gun can be fired as rapidly
as the gums OF smaller calibre, has much
wider range, and can, Of course, do much
more effective work. The deyelopment
with the extension of the range Of the sub
marine torpedo. Some years ago, owing to
the limited range of the torpedo, and
u Founders were considered adequate
for the purpose Of repelling attack by this
engine of destruction was brought TO such
a state Of practical efficiency. with wider
range and greater accuracy OF control,
It was found that new weapon OF oefencs
was absolutely necessary, and, as result
az the work OF the ordnance experts, the
q inch gun, considered the best OF its
type now in use by any nation, was IN
vented.
The advantage. from almost every point
Of yiew, OF having q battleship IN whose
armament there are only two calibres
n of course recognized by naval experts.
It n true that in order to construct O snip
Of the tonnage and beam required TO safely
carry the increased weight OF heavy guns
eacrifce must be made in other directions.
IL n improbable that the speed OF such
ship could exceed 10 knots but as vessel
Of this class would be built TO fight, and not
nm sway" as high Official OF the navy
MT 4 to-day, this sacrifice would not be
considered drawback.
For long time the construction Of such
a battleship as the one contemplated has
been the dream OF navy experts, but they
consider the time has now arrived when
such a type of fighting machine is abso-
The American Navy is at present COM
posed OF vessels the majority OF which
can be separated into Homogeneous grouPs'
ships Of the recent type which are essen
tia1ly homogeneous, five new cruisers which
can also be so ciassed, and the somewhat
less modern ships can also be divided into
other groups OF Ighlne uni's. ro .u
cos,sjdering three types only-the battle
ehip, the armored cruiser and the destroyer.
They think that navy composed o.
merely these three types Of vessels-with
the possible addition OF the submarine
which is considered to be as yet in the ex-
detrimental stage would be more efficient
than a navy made up of all the different
prevailing types. 1t is very improbable,
therefore, that the construction Of any
,s,n,. cr,,;sera ~ the type of the Charleston,
NilwAukee, Columbia, Minneapolis, Olym-
pin, Chicago, Newark and San Francisco
viii be recommended. The protected
cruiser is at present practically discredited,
largely through the results OF the seahghts
whsSh have occurred during the present