New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-29
AMERICAN BATTLESHIPp

UnsenSational as was the launch of the battle
| ship Louisiana, at Newport News on Saturday,
| 1t was a noteworthy incident in the develop
| ment of the American navy. The vessel is the
| pioneer OF new class. She and her four sisters
will each have a displacement of 10000 tons.
| That of the Virginia and the Rhode Island.
| which went down the ways last spring, and of
| three others belonging to the same group Is
| only 10000 From the smaller ships a speed of
| nineteen knots is expected, whereas the Loulsi-
| ana will not develop more than eighteen. One
| quintet, therefore, should possess whatever
advantage attends the ability to man9uvre
quickly in action and the other should have the
| stability which comes from greater size.
Still another difference between the two types
| will be found in the armament. Both classes of
| ships will mount four 12-inch and eight S-inch
| guns. The next smaller ones carried by the
Virginia will be 6-inch rifles, whereas those of
| the Louisiana Will have a calibre of Z inches
an entirely new size for this country. The
policy of using heavier ordnance than formerly
In the secondary battery will soon be generally
followed by progressive nations. 1t was IL
Illustrated by the adoption of 71h-inch guns for
the two battleships sold by Chill to England a
few months ago
Between the builders of the Louisiana and
those of the next ship of her class TO be
launched-the COnnecticut-a rivalry exists
which is really a matter of public interest. The
vessel which was set afiOat last Saturday is
being constructed at a private yard, and the
other is being built at Brooklyn by the govern
ment. According 10 a dispatch printed in The
Tribune yesterday, Newport News claims to
have won the first heat of the race" Well, she
ought to have done so. The keel of the Louisi-
ana was laid fully a month before the Con
necticuts. Moreover. whatever may have been
the secret intentions of the builders of the
Louisiana, the date for launching her not
announced until long after the PRONUNCIATION of
the date for n similar event at the Brook
lyn yard lSeptember 29l. After all, what will
count most in popular esteem is the completion
of the two vessels which can hardly be looked
for in less than about two years. If the Lousi-
ana is delivered 70 the government for trial
before the Connecticut is. then Newport News
may we'll crow. At present, honors appear TO
be easy
Whether warships should be constructed by
the government or by private contractors is a
question on both sides of which much can be
said. 4 yard where there Is already the neces-
sary plant for building vessels for the merchant
marine should he able-theoretcally, at least
to do naval work more economically than the
government can. Fewer changes perhaps, oc-
cur in the personnel OF such companies that
doing business at Newport News than In the
Bureau of Construction at Washington Ii is a
lamentable fact that offers of increased pay or
other considerations continually taking
highly valuable men out Of the service of the
nation. On the other hand, the government
would be largely at the mercy of the contractor.
both in respect 10 price and promptness, il ii
could not do something more AT its own yards
than make repairs. For similar reasons IL has
occa sionally seemed advisable TO give the Navy
Department the facilities for manufacturing
armor. When the Louisiana and Connecticut
are ready To 20 into commission. therefore. the !
authorities will know more than they de- now
about the relative cost OF the two systems OF
and about the assurance which /
they afford regarding rapid work.