Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-31
VERMONT TAKES WAVES
Battleship Launched Sue
cessfully Today.
DESCRIPTION OF SHIP
SISTER TO THE KANSAS AND THE
CONNECTICUT.
Thousands Cheered and Waved Their
Hats as Hull Struck
Water.

QUINCY Mass, August 31-The new
16O0o-ton battleship Vermont. built for the
United States government by the Fore
River Shipbuilding Company, was sue
cessfully launched today.
Thousands cheered and waved their hats
as the hull rushed into the water. Among
those who Witnessed the spectacle We're
many distinguished citizens of Vermont,
Massa chusetts and other places. The guests
of honor included Gov. Bell Of Vermont,
Gov. Douglas of Massachusetts. Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Charles II. Darling
and Commander Bontakoff, Russian naval
attache at Washington. After the launching
the guests were entertained at a luncheon
by the Fore River Company.
Description Of the Ship.
The battlesfip Vermont which is to be
launched here today, is one of the largest
and most powerful of the ships of war that
has been constructed for the United States
navy. She is of 5000 tons burden with a
length of 4J0 feet and extreme breadth of
IS 1O-l2ths feet. She will be required to
steam eighteen knots an hour for four con-
secutive hours. The main battery Of the
Vermont will consist of four 12-inch breech-
loading rifles. two mounted forward and
breech-loading rifles. In the secondary bat
terry will be twenty 3-inch 14-pounder rapid
fire guns; twelve 3-pounder and semi-auto
matte guns: six 1-pounder automatic guns
two 1-pounder semi-automatic guns; two
3-inch field pieces: two machine guns and six
automatic guns. The 12-inch pieces will be
mounted in pairs in two electrically con-
trolled, balanced, elliptical turrets. The
finch guns will be mounted in broadside on
pedestals on the gun deck behind finch
armor.
The hull of the batteship is of steel
throughout 1t Is protected at the water
line by a complete belt of armor nine feet
three inches wide, having a maximum
thickness of eleven inches for about 200 feet
ami1ships. Forward and at of this the
maximum thickness is nine inches within tn >
limit of magazines, from which points the
thickness is gradually decreased to four
inches at the stem and stern. The twelve
inch barbetteS extend from the protected
deck to about four feet above the main
deck and consist of ten inches of armor in
front and seven and one-half inches in the
rear above the gun deck
The engines are OF the vertical twin screw
four-cylinder triple-expansion type, of a
combined horse power of 1880. There are
twelve boilers placed In six water-tight
compartments. There are three tunnels,
each 100 feet high above the base line
The Vermont was designed a flagship
The arrangement of quarters provides &C
commodation for a flag officer, chief of
staff, nineteen ward room officers, ten jun
Tor officers. ten warrant officers and not
fewer than 761 men, including sixty ma
rines.
Informal speeches followed the luncheon.
Rear Admiral Bowles, president of the
shipbufding company, proposed toast to
President Roosevelt. The toast was Il
give you the health of soldier peace
maker, statesman and brave and honest
genteman-Theodore Roosevelt, President
OF the United States"
Mention of the President threw the as
semblage into most enthusiastic demon
stration. Every one present arose imme
Giately and cheers filled the loft
Assistant Secretary Darling responding
spoke of the Presidents part in the victory
Of San Juan Hill and his courage in max
Ing the recent trip on the submarine boat
Ilunger Then he said: But greatest of
STA, our longtime friend, and Japan, our
foster child-the Yankee of the east-he has
added great glory to himself"
The Pinch barbettes extend from me
protective deck to about four feet above
the main deck and consist of ten inches Of
armor In front and seven and one-half
inches in the rear above the gun deck. Be
tween the gun deck and protective deck
there will be a uniform thickness of six
inches. The barbettes will not have any
special framing, the connection of the
amor to the decks being sufficient
The Pinch turrets will have front plate
twelve inches thick. rear plates eight
riches thick and top plates two and one
half inches thick.
The S-inch barbettes will be six inches
thick in front and four inches thick N
rear, with the upper tube three and three
quarter inches thick and the lower tube
three inches thick.
The S-inch turret front plate will be six
and one-half inches thick, the rear plate
SIX inches and the top plates two inches
thick.