New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-22
THE NEW TYPE OF BATTLEsHIP.

THE NEW TYPE OF BATTLESHIP.
Everything considered, Admiral Dewey's plea
before the House Committee on Naval Affairs
for battleships of larger size than any which
we now possess was cOnspicuOusy moderate
As a member of the General Board he has adj
vocated the construction Of as many as three
new vessels of this class, but Washington dis
patches represent him as saying on Tuesday
that the United States ought to have at least
two equal to the DreadnOught. Again there is
reason to think that Admiral Dewey has favored
an increase from displacement Of 10000 TO
one of 10000 tons, and he says that Japan has
already determined to have ship Of nearly that
size. Yet he now proposes an advance to only
$4,000 tons. Perhaps these concessions are due
to the dissent Of the Board on Construction
from the well known convictions Of the Gen
eral Board, of which Admiral Dewey is pres-
dent They also recognize Secretary Bona
parties supposed lack of sympathy with the
General Boards programme
Within the last four months, however there
have been developments which greatly strength
en- the case for battleships displacing $4,000
tons and mounting at least ten 12-inch guns
When Mr. Bonapartes report went to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, the world at large knew OF
only a single 1SOOOton battleship and could
learn very little even about that. When the
keel of the DreadnoUght was laid last year
able secrecy in regard to her characteristics
Since she was launched much more informa-
ton has been available. There can be little
doubt that the three principal war vessels called
for in the programme Of the new administra-
ton in England viii be modelled after her in
all essential respects. Moreover Japan Ger
many and France have recently committed
themselves definitely to the same displacement
and it will probably not be long before Russia
and put in commission the vessels which Ad-
miral Dewey recommends therefore she will
have been anticipated by practically all Of the
other great naval powers OF the world. The
example of foreign navies is important Some
thing besides idle fashion or mere taste is in.
VOved.
According to Admiral Dewey one Of the mod
ern lessons Of naval warfare is that battles are
not won by broadside fire alone. The value of
the guns which can be trained fore and aft is
coming to be appreciated more than ever. This
statement suggests a comparison between two
plans which have apparently been under CON
sderatiOn at Washington. 1t has been pro
visonally determined TO give the Michigan and
the South Carolina each eight 12-inch guns two
pairs being placed forward and two aft and all
four on the centre line Of the ship. One of the
forward pairs viii be behind and higher than
the other 1t will thus be possible to bring four
/ suns w De"A su@46HI "lleau- IAe bIedunOugnt
mounts six guns forward, the pairs being so dis
posed that all Of them can be used together in
the same manner. 1t is safe TO say that if the
new American battleships kept down to
5000 TONS the first OF these arrangements will
be adopted. II Il displacement OF 5000 tons is
authorized ten guns can be mounted, and the dis
tributiOn on the DreadnOught followed. The lat
ter scheme would increase the power of the bow
fire 30 per cent, while, according TO Secretary
Bonaparte the increase in cost would be only 10
/ per cent; that is an addition OF $4,000 To the
original estimate. Bow fire is not the only thing
70 consider, to be sure; but it is possible that