The Adair County news., 1905-11-15
DISPUTE OVER SHIPS.
EXPERTS ENGAGE IN BATTLE
SHIP CONTROVERSY.
War of Words Being Waged at Wash
ington Regarding ACCESSIBILITY
Of Building $4,000 Ton
Vessels of War.

WaShingtOn.-A Lively controversy is
being waged by the naval experts over
the designs for the battleahips Michigan
and South Carolina. Whether I he nit
ed States shall follow the lead of other
nations and build $4,000 ton wan vesse is,
or stick to the present maximum is the
chief point in dispute.
While the greatest secrecy surrounds
the deliberations of the naval experts. it
can be said that one design has b. en-
worked out to such point that ii it
should be adopted the contracts could
be let early next year. 1t involves a rad
ical departure in battleShip cOnstruc-
ton, both as regards the character and
disposition of the main battery and the
ability of the ship to remain afiOat de-
spite the SevereSt pounding. Although
presenting an entire novelty in battle
ships it has found such favor among
the officers who are familiar with it that
at present it seems likely it will be the
one chosen
The act of congress authorizing the
Michigan and South Carolina provided
that they should have d trial displace-
ment of 10000 tons Since that act was
passed the question of building still
\ larger ships has been much discussed.
and there are several advocates of at
least 1S,000-ton ships among the officers
of the general board
The principal argument of these Off
GERS seems TO be that other nations are
building ships of that size and the Unit
ed States must follow suit or be left be-
hind. Admiral Dewey has expressed
himself as in sympathy with the idea
There are officers in the construction
corps. however, who do not share this
opinion. They argue that the principal
gain by such an increase in size would
be slightly increased speed. but that
this would not be effective except when
the ship was fresh from dock. and that
it could hardly be sufficient to produce
much advantage in action. Moreover. it
would be obtained at the cost of other
important factors.
An officer who discussed the matter
said: Suppose it were decided to add
1000 tons to these ships. 1t could be
cone either by sending them further
into the water or by giving them greater
length. In the first case. they could not
get into our harbors and there are no
docks that have water enough to take
them in Channels would have TO be
dredged and new docks constructed. In
the second case. tits doubtful if the adj
dition of 1000 tons would give the re-
quired increased speed and it would en-
large the target presented to the enemy
by II per cent and decrease the handi-
ness of the ship in maneuvering
Each increment of speed after GER
tain point is reached is obtained only by
very greatly increase horse power.
This officer cited the case of battleship
which steams at IS knots with about
5000 indicated horse power to attain
II knots and 1900 TO make IS knots.
He was inclined to the belief that. witt
ships of $4,000 tons as the South Caro-
lima and Michigan are to be- an addition
al 1000 tons would not give sufficiently
increased engine power to produce an
simultaneously higher seed Half of
that increase would be taken up in the
increased length. and nearly the other
half in the added turret which the
greater length would demand