The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-29
F RTIFICATIONS
ON MIDWAY
ISLANDS
Plans for Work Have Been Pre-
pared Turbines May Be Put
in New BattIeShipS.

washington, u ~ Wal vi =
The plans prepared by 1t. w. {
Harlee, NJ c., for the mounting o
guns on Sand Island, Midway Islands
have been received by the navy de
! partment. 1t. Harlee volunteered Z
| do this work under the supervision
of the station at Hawaii, 1t. COmdT
Niblack. The question of fortified
tions at Midway Islands has been tax
en- up by the General Board and the
Bureau of Ordnance, and it has beer
decided to install two Al inch guns
and mounts and magazine to hole
400 rounds of ammunition VIII bt
built on the island. It is now bel.ev
ed the Iroquois will go the Midway
Island in May, to tow out a lighter
, and to engage in boring work. If the
IToquois engages in this work she vii
be at Midway about six weeks or two
months. Two Al inch guns and am
munitiOn are at Hawaii, and will be
considered in the question Of sending
material to the Midway Island.
At the Brooklyn New York yard ar
rangements have been completed fol
installing on the collier Abarenda ap
paratus for coaling at sea. With this
apparatus abroad, the collier will be
available for supplying fuel to vessels
at distance. from the coal pile.
Circulars relating to the new battle
ships South Carolina and Michigan
authorized in 1905, will be issued by
the navy department within a few
days. By April list, the plans and
specifications will be ready for dis
tribution and bids will be invited for
the construction Of the ships, accord
ing to the department and builders
plans. 1t is possible that both ships
will be propelled by turbines instead
of ordinary reciprocating engines.
The British are installing the turbines
exclusively and this action, it is be-
lieved is based on the principle of
speed combined with economy Of oper-
alton.
There will be keen competition for
the contracts for these ships, it is be-
lieved, owing to the scarcity of work
at the yards. The battleships will be
Of 10000 tons displacement.
During this week the house com.
mittee on naval affairs will vote on
the naval programme to be included
in the naval appropriation bill. This
will probably reach the house this
week. Although there is strong SEN
timent for recommending the building
of battleship Of $4,000 or 10000 tons
1t is probable that recommendation
will be made for a battleship of 19. 900
tons displacement to be armed with
IL inch and a small secondary bat
terry
Additional appropriation for the
ships now BUILDING or to be built in
the navy yards has been decided on
by the committee. The two sailing
training ships will need $4,000 each
and the two golfers 100000 each.
The Connecticut about $4OO, 900 addi-
tional. The bill IS practically com
pleted, only needing the consideration
OF the dry dock and increase Of the
navy items. The bill when comp1et-
ed, it is believed will carry less than
Ships Of the Atlantic fleet have
been fitted with new sights and modi-
fed mounts. This makes the battle
ship and the armored cruiser squad
ron uniformly equipped with appli.
ances which will promote the efficien-
cy Of gun fire. The annual target
practice of the fleet of Rear Admiral
Evans will commence IN about al
week off the southern cost of Cuba,
at place to be selected by the ad-
miraI.
With a view of transferring the
to the Naval Militia, a sur
vey has been made of that vessel. |
but owing to the necessary changes OH
board to equip the ship for that SER
vice being so extensive it is possible
The vessel Will not be assigned to
that duty.
The Bureau of Navigation of the
Navy is experiencing considerable
trouble in obtaining the full compile
nents of men for the ships which
are soon to be placed in commission
By June 1 it is planned to put into
commission on the Atlantic coast the
Rhode Island, Virginia, Tennessee !
and Louisiana and the Connecticut
and the Washington will follow soon
after, while the Milwaukee, S. Dako- |
q and California will be placed on
he active list on the Pacific coast. 1t !
ooks now as if some of these vessels
Will have to go into commission without
crews. The transfer Of the !
men from the Texas and three mont |
.ors of the coast squadron will fur |
lish enough men as a crew for the