The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-06
BIGGER BATTLESHIPS.
A Movement Toward Making New
Ones $4,000 Tons.

Washington, Nov. 6.-The sentiment
among naval officials in favor of larger
warships, with increased gun power,
Will, it is expected, result in an appeal
to congress to increase the tonnage of
the two battleships authorized by the
act or March last to Is 600 tons. The
general board of the navy of which
Admiral Dewey is at the head has sub
mitted to Secretary Bonaparte a rec
concentration for a naval increase pro-
gramme. The secretary now has the
subject under considerat ton. In addf-
ton to the recommendation of the
general board he viii have before him
the views OF the naval board of con-
struction which is composed of bureau
chiefs of the department. 1t is under
stood that the general board has rec
commended the construction of battle
ships OF greater tonnage than any yet
projected for the American navy.
One of the principal objects aimed
at by the advocates of bigger battle
ships is the installation OF a greater
number of the largest sized guns car
Tied by American men of war. Con-
sideratiOn already has been given to
the possibility of installing more -
inch guns on a battleship and if con-
gress favors an increase in tonnage of
the Michigan and South Carolina, the
two battleships authorized last March
from $4,000 to $4,000 tons, one of the
problems to be solved will be the dis
position of the large number of r.
AAACAA 3 uAtS WHICH II Is QGSfIeQ 10 mount
The mounting of an increased number
of the largest sized guns, it is said,
would mean the doing away with those
of smaller fcalibre in the main battery
which would give greater uniformity
In the size of guns of the main battery,
The biggest battleship now being
built for the navy carry but four r.
inch guns supplemented by a number
of and 7-inch guns
In discussing the question of arma-
n1onf for h1ffTPEhfFoz today
expressed the opinion that the speed
of the vessels is not so important, ac-
cording for, as 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, it would not be
necessary to develop great speed. ex-
cept in pursuit of an enemy. There
American navy six battleships of
600 tons each. The Michigan and
South Carolina authorized at the last
session are to be of the same size un-
less congress can be induced to in
crease their tonnage to 1900 tons.
The recOmm endations which Secre-
tary Bonaparte will make in the mat
ter of increases for the navy are await
ed with much interest The fact that
so many new ships will be added to
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 i'm
mediate service is to be maintained.
When the battIeships and armored
cruisers now under construction are
placed in commission a much larger
number of enlisted men will be requir-
ed as we'll as several hundred addition
al officers. If the present rate of con-
struction is carried out. it is estimated
at the department that six or seven
battleships and four big armored
cruisers and two protected cruisers
will be ready for commission within
the next II or Is months The new
battleships call for something like 2S2
officers and $3.50 enlisted men. while
the four armOred cruisers call for an
aggregate of 1872 officers and 3.206
men