Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-11-10
THE NEW JERSEY Launched
HUNDREDS OF PERSONS AT
THE SCENE.
Christened BY Daughter Of State
For Which The Vessel
Is Named.

Quincy. Mass. Nov. 10. -Christened
by daughter of the state whose name
she is 10 bear, the magnificent battle
ship New Jersey was launched today
from the yard of the Fore River Ship
and Engine Company. Hundreds or
persons saw the ship plunge into the
water, and for some time after their
cheers echoed along the river banks.
1t was Mrs. William b. Kinney,
daughter of Governor Franklin Muir
ply, of New Jersey, who smashed the
traditional bottle nof American cham
pagne against the steel PROV of the
huge ship as it started down the ways.
The New Jersey party included Gov
ernor Murphy and numerous other state
officials, together with visitors from
Trenton, Jersey City, Camden and
other cities of the state. On the chris
tening stand also were pominent naval
officers from the Charlestown and New
York navy yards, from Philadelphia,
Washington and other points.
The New Jersey, when completed,
will be one of the most powerful bat
tleships in the world. She is one of
the five ships authorized by Congress
in 1900, and belongs to the Virginia
class Her sister ship, the Rhode Is
land. was launched at the Fore River
yards last May. This class are all
constructed with double turrets. The
New Jersey is the last ship with
duble turrets the Government intends
to build. The double turret has its
disadvantages, according TO naval ex-
perts. After considerable delay the
keel of the New Jersey was laid in
1901. Since then the work has gone
rapidly ON, but il will be another
wear before the vessel will go into
commission. Then the total cost TO
the Government will be about 50, 900,
600. The New JERSEYS length on
loadwater line is 435 feet, breadth as
feet and full load draft 26 feet. Her
displacement will be 10, 900 tons.
syThe New Jersey will have speed of
at least 10 knots. She will be propell
ed at this high speed by twin screws
driven by two four cylinder engines
of 10. 600 indicated horsepower. The
vessels armament will consist of four
12-inch guns, mounted by pairs in bal
anced turrets, one turret being located
forward of the superstructure and the
other aft. OF the eight 8-inch guns.
four will be mounted by pairs in tur-
rets, and four in two broadside tur-
rets located amidshlps. There Will
also be broadside battery on the gun
deck of twelve 6-inch rapid-fire guns,
mounted six on each side. The secon
Diary battery will consist of twelve B.
inch 50-calibre rapid-fire guns, twelve
semi-automatic, eight heavy auto
matte, two 30-calibre machine guns
and six 30-calibre Colt automatic
guns. She will also be fitted with
submerged torpedo tubes.
To make her defensive qualities
proportional to her offensive qualities
she is provided with complete water
line belt of armor, eight feet in width,
eleven inches thick at the top and
eight inches at the bottom. The New
Jersey has also a casemate armored
belt extending over 245 feet of her en-.
tire length. 1t is the intention of the
Government to make all the vessels
of the New Jersey and Virginia class
fiagships. With this end in view &C
commodations were made for one flag
officer, one commanding officer, one
chief of staff, nineteen wardroom Off
GERS, ten junior officers, eight warrant
officers and crew of 772 men, in
Guiding force of about sixty marines
In the matter of electrical appliances
the New Jersey will be superior to any
other battIeship ever constructed by
this Government.