Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-07
HEAVIER WLRSHIPS WANTED
General Board Of Navy Submits Recon-
msndation to Secretary BonAparts.
WOULD HAVE i8.ooO-ToN VESSELS
Congress- May He Asked 10 Increase
Size of BattIeships Michigan
and south Carolina
Now Authorized.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 6-The sentiment
among naval officials in favor of larger
.warships with increased gun power will, IL
is expected, result in an appeal to congress
to increase the tonnage of the two battle
ships authorized by the act of March last
to 1900 tons. The general board of the
navy, Of which Admiral Dewey is at the
head, has submitted to Secretary Bona
parte a recommendation for naval in
crease program. The secretary has the
subject under consideration. In addition
to the recommendation Of the general board
he will have before him the views Of the
naval board on construction. which is COM
posed of bureau chiefs of the department
It is understood that the general board
has recommended the construction of bat
tleships of greater tonnage than any yet
projected for the American navy. One Of
the principal objects aimed at by the ad-
vocates of bigger battleships is the installa-
ton Of a greater number of the largest
sized guns carried by American men-of-war.
Consideration already has been given to
the possibility OF installing ten twelve-inch
guns on battleship. and IL congress favors
an increase OF the Michigan and South
Carolina, the two battleships authorized
last March. from 5000 to 1900 tons. one
of the problems to be solved will be the
disposition Of the large number of twelve
inch guns which II is desired to mount.
The mounting of an increased number Of
the largest-sized guns, II Is said, would
mean the doing away with those Of smaller
caliber in the main 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 twelve-inch guns,
supplemented by a number of eight and
seven-inch guns.
speed Not so Important.
In discussing the question of armament
for battleships today one expert expressed
the opinion that the speed of the vessels
is not so important a consideration, for,
he said, battleships are made to fight
and not to run. With a battery of the
biggest guns pouring forth shells of the
greatest size from every quarter, he said,
1t would not be necessary to develop such
great speed except in pursuit of an enemy.
There are now building for the American
navy six battIeships of 1900 tons each.
The Michigan and South Carolina, author
lied at the last session, are to be of the
same size, unless congress can be induced
to increase their tonnage to 1900 tons.
The recommendations which Secretary
ereases for the navy are awaited with much
interest. The fact that so many new ships
will be added to the navy during the COM
ing year makes the question of an adequate
personnel one of serious consideration. If
the present policy of keeping all the ships
of the navy in condition for immediate
service is to be maintained. When the
battleships and armored cruisers now UNI
der construction are placed in commission
much larger number Of enlisted men will
be required, as well as several hundred
additional officers. If the present rate Of
construction is carried out, it is estimated
at the department that six or seven bat
tleships and four big armored cruisers and
two protected cruisers will be ready for
! commission within the next twelve or fif-
teen months. The new battleships call for
something like 2s2 officers and 5,49O enlisted
men, while the four armored cruisers call
for an aggregate of 1852 officers and S,9O6
| men,