Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-07
And More Heavy Guns for
Our Batt|esh|ps.
As They Are Built 70 |l Eight and
Not to Run Away
Naval Men Say They Should Be Grea'est
Fighting Craft Afloat. -. -

| yy..b;,,,<ton Nov 6.-The sentiment
| Among naval officers in favor OF idree'
| ,r,rsbinS vjth increased gun po"el
| eli; II * exuected, result in an appear
| I-.,asS IN increase the tonnage OF
tb.. TWO battleships authorized by the
aat Of March last, to $4,000 tons. the
re,noral board Of the. navy. of which
| ADMIRAL Dewey is at the head. mas
Submitted to Sec. BonaHarte recon-
| ,.,enfatiou for a naval increase pro-
gram. The secretary now has the SUD-
| iect under consideration. He Will also
have before him the views of the naval
| board OH construction which is COM
nosei Of bureau chiefs of the depart
ment.
II is understood that the general
hoard has recommended the constitute
lion of battleshins of greater tonnage
than any vet projected for the Amer
lean navy. One of the principal objects
aimed at by the advocates of bigger
battleships is the installation Of a
greater number Of the largest sized
guns carried by American men-of-war.
Consideration already has been Civ
ell to the possibility of installing 10 T.
inch guns on a battleShip and if Con-
gress farors an increase in tonnage oil
the Michigan and South Carolina, the
two battleships authorized. last March,
from 5000 to $4,000 tons, one OF the
problems to be solved VIII be the lis
position of the large number OF lZ-lnch
guns which it is desired to mount. The
mounting of an increased NUMBER OF
the largest sized guns. it is sand. would
mean the doing way with those OF
smaller calibrc in the nam battery
which would give greater uniformity IN
the size Of guns of the main battery.
The biggest battleShips now building
for the navy carry but four Finch
guns supplemented by q number of s.
inch and 10-inch guns. In discussing
the question of armament for battle
ships, today, one expert expressed the
opinion that the speed of the vessels IS
not So important n consideration, for
he said battleships are made to light
and not TO run. With battery OF the
biggest guns pouring forth shells OF
the greatest size from every quarter he
said it would not be necessary to de-
velop such great speed except in pur-
suit OF ali enemy.
There are now building for the Amer
lean navy six battleshins of 10000 tons
each. The Michigan and South Carolina
authorized at the last session are to be
of the same size unless Congress can
be induced to increase their tonnage to
$4,000 tons.
The recommendations which Sec.
Bonaparte will mako in the matter of
Increases for the navy are awaited with
much interest. When the battleships
and armored cruisers now under con-
struction are placed in commission a
mucn larger number of enlisted men
will be required as well as several hun
dred additional officers. If the present
, rate uf construction is carried out, it
is estimated at the department that six
| or seven hattlcshipS and four big cruiS-
morcd cruisers and two protected cruiS-
| crS will be ready for commission within
| the next l. or u months.
The now battleshios call for some
| thing like So officers and 1890 enlisted
| men. while the four armOrCd cruisers
call fer an aggregate Of 162 officers and
320G men.