Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-02-10

Portsmouth. Eng, February W--I
The monster ~battleship Dreadnought,
which. when finished win cost seven
million dollars. was launched here to-
day bv King Edward. The ceremony
was the most simple possible. the
king having vetoed all %pageantry on
account OF the death OF his father
inlaw, King Christian.
Pourtsmouth. Eng, Feb. i0.--The
launch Of the D~readnought, the larg'
est and most powerful ~battleship OF
the worlds navies, marks the nrst
stage In what the British admiralty
claim rs the greatest achievement In
naval construction. On October =
1905, only a few DAYS over four
months ago, work was commenced at
Portsmouth on the vessel. the first OF
what Is to be known as the Dreai'
nought class. The promise was made
then that she would DO launched
within six months. The admiralty
has more than made good their boast
and BritIshers have another cause for
pride In their navy. Another twelve
months, an going well the Dread
noneht will be commissioned and Join
the Atlantic fleet. thus beating all
previous records In battleship build
inc by six months. There are two
reasons why work Is being rushed
on the Dreadnought. One Is the great
saving In cost. but the chief reason
IL that the ship Is 10 some extent
nm experiment and It Is desired 10
give her a good trial before commenc-
ing construction on any more Of her
class. Great Britain. u will be 70
membered was the only power having
attaches or observers on Japanese
ships during the Russo Japanese war,
while expert British constructors
were given every Opportunity Of learn
ing where In the ships a Japan prov
ed weak or strong as the case mighS
be. These men were bnsy from starr
10 finish OF the wal and Immediately
after the battle sf the Sea Of japan
came home with their data. which was
submitteY with suggestions. to a spe
cial committee ON which sat mol only
the most experienced naval experts
but the director f naval construc'
ton, Lord Kelvin. snd q nnwAer Of
the leading private shipbuilders. The
Dreadnought Ii the outcome of their
deliberations, an, embpdiment Of the
lessons OF the tate war IN the far frst'
4 ship apparently invincible, capable
at one discharge OF her gan Of throw.
ing with unparalleled force twice as
much metal M any foreign TnaH-of-
war now afloat. while her armor will
render her immune from attacks BY
any enemy's guns, and. nome claim.
even against forpedoes. fred ut the
usual battle range. The details OF
the .Dreadnought's construction re-
main a secret so well has the admiral.
" guarded the plans. Efforts OF naval
attaches no gather information for
their governments have been f~ruftless,
No Information Il forthcoming. thc
answer 70 all Inquiries being the can.
did one that Great Britain Intends h,
maintain secrecy al TO what her ex.
lperts learned as . result OF Japan's
experiences for one year and by rush
INK 70 completion the Dreadnought,
will gain q year II not more In naval
construction ove all other powers
except her ally. Usually when ships
are building a board II placed Ct the
head OF the slip giving her name.
displacement, principal dimensions,
horsepower and speed. In the case
Of the ~Dreadnought not an item In the
design II revealed, the hoard con.
tanning the simple sentence Ills Ma.
testy's Ship Dreadnought, commenced
October .. 1905" When ready for
9 the ship win displace $500 tons,
but this IL the least remarkable thing
about her, for besides tn I.
trOduc0d ~ a ~ - Meas y
ern We ..suit Of the far east
= -, Britain W placing on ne
- Aghting machine the heavies
armament ever carried BY 4 shin
In the past British vessels have cal
ried. four l2.inch guns, throwing 81
pound shells: the Dreadnought wi
have ten q these weapons Of = ne'
type with a muxxle energy Of 1856
~ compared with the 33.6c2 OF IN
guns carried In as recent ~battleship
as the Majesty class. an Increase
power Of 50 per cent. In a gres
sea night the Dreadnought win be abb
to discharge every minute ten pr
jecfiles weighing $500 pounds Wit
sufficient velocity to send them twel