Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03
new TYPE OF WARSH|P
Launching Of the Tennessee
at Philadelphia.
O. s. ARMORED CRUISER
INTERESTING EXERCISES AT
CRAMPS sHIPYARD TODAY.
One of Two Ships That Excel in Battery
Power and Protection Any
Vessel Afoat.

| PHILADELPHIA, Pa, December BIN
der disappointing weather conditions which,
| however, detracted little from the bril-
| lacy of the affair, the armored cruiser
| Tennessee was launched today at the yards
OF the VIM. Cramp Ship and Engine Build
| ing Company. Government officials, repre-
| sentatives of the navy and army from
/ Washington, New York and this city and
a party of distinguished Tennesseeans,
| headed by Gov. J. B. Frazier and his staff,
| attended the launching
| The weather was raw and cold and was
| rendered more uncomfortable by a drizzle
| Of sleet which fell during the entire morn
| ing. A chill northeast wind swept over the
| Delaware river and across the Christening
Pavilion but the six hundred guests paid
| little attention to the elements. Interest
| was centered in the big warship and its
school girl sponsor; Miss Annie Keith Fra
zler, daughter of the governor of Tennes-
see, and a great cheer went up as she broke
| the bottle of champagne on the prov of the
| cruiser.
Following the launch the invited guests
| were entertained at a luncheon in the
mold loft.
Distinguished Party.
Governor Fraziers party included the fol-
| lowing. Governor and Mrs. James B. Fraz-
Ter, Senator and Mrs E. w. Carmack Mr..
| and Mrs. T. B. Carroll. Gen. H. H. Hanna
and mother. General and Mrs. L. D. Tyson,
General and Mrs. ]. H. Hardwick, General
and Mrs. ]. B. Pound, Gen. r. E. Fort, H.
c. Alexander. Col. L. w. Buxford Col.
Sam L. King Col. G. T. Fitzhugh. Col r.
w. Martin. Col. Leon Caraway, Col R. L.
Mcclellan. Col. and Mrs. p. A. Shelton Col.
and Mrs. w. w. Mcguire and two daugh-
Colonel and Mrs. Walter Bell, Colonel and
Mrs. n. G. Robertson. Colonel and Mrs ].
L. Dibrell. Colonel and Mrs. Harris Brown,
Colonel and Mrs. w. III. Gass Colonel and
Mrs. A. NJ Shook, Captain and Mrs. Chas.
b. Hogan. Miss Elizabeth Thomas, Miss
Lorraine Meeks, Miss Estelle Bailey, Miss
Mary Guy Trigg, Miss Augusta McKeldin,
Mrs. John w. Bailey, Mr.. and Mrs j. W.
Thomas, jr.. Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Chamblss,
Miss Willingham: Miss D. Sunderland. the
Misses Dibrell, Mr.. and Mrs. s. S. Dibrell,
Rutledge Smith. John W. Fry, Miss Fry,
Miss Keep, the Misses Mcguire, John Dono-
hue, Miss Anna Lee Penn, Percy Warren,
c. F. Milton and wife. Miss Mary L. Baxter
and Miss Bailey.
of commerce. which sought to have the
cruiser named in honor of their state, were
present: VIM. c. Collier. E. r. Eastman, j.
w. Judd, George r. Knix and Gen. Lee
Brock.
Description of the Ship.
There are probably no vessels in the
United States navy the general features or
details of whose designs have been given
such careful consideration as the two battle
ships and the two armored cruisers author
lied by act of Congress of July 1. 1902.
The designs of the two battle ships have
been completed, the contract for one, the
Louisiana, having been awarded to the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Company, and the other the Connecticut
is building at the New York navy yard.
Both of the armored cruisers, the Tonnes
see and Washington. are to be built by
contract.
The speed of these vessels Is to be twenty
two knots.
The Tennessee and Washington excel in
battery power and protection any armored
cruiser built. building or designed in the
world, and they are the equal of a large
majority of the battle ships of the world.
With the high protection and battery these
vessels bear the same relation to the battle
ship the cavalry does to the infantry in
the army, and with their excess of speed
over the battle ship they are able to give
battle or run away from the enemy's battle
ship as they please; and with their power
full offensive and defensive qualities they
are able. In case of necessity, to put up a
stiff fight with the finest battle ship afioat
with a fair chance of winning out.
General Features.
The general features and dimensions of
the Tennessee are as follows: Length, SOP
feet; breadth. y feet 101a inches; displace-
ment, Il, 500 tons; mean draft, % feet; max
imum displacement, full load condition,
1880 tons; mean draft at maximum load
q feet; total coal bunker capacity. 1000
tons; steaming radius at 10 knots per hour,
about $500 knots; steaming radius at full
speed, about 8, 100 knots; maximum speed,
not less than % knots; maximum 1. III. p.
(estimated) for this speed, $4,000; appro-
priated for hull and machinery, $4.659. 900.
The draft of these vessels is limited by
the depth of the harbors of the United
States, this being a feature of all our
battle ships and armored cruisers. none Of
which exceed mean draft of about twenty