The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-02-10
The Dreadnought
Largest and Most Powerful Battle
/, ship of the Worlds Navies
Launched Today.

Associated Press
Portsmouth, Feb 10-The monster
battleship Dreadnought, which, when
finished, will have cost S7,50000O was
launched here today by King Edward.
The launch of the Dreadnought, the
largest and most powerful battleship
Of the worlds navies, marks the first
stage in what the British admiralty
claim as the greatest achievement in
naval construction. On October End,
1905, only few days over ourmonths
ago, work was commenced at Ports
mouth on the vessel, the first of what
is to be known as the DreadnOught
class. The promise was made then
that she would be 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, all
going we'll the Dreadnought will be
commissioned and join the Atlantic
Fleet, thus beating all previous rec
ords in battleship building by six
months. There are two reasons why
work is being rushed on the Dread
nought. One is the great saving in
cost but the chief reason is that the
ship is to sol ,e extent an experiment
and it is desired to give her a good
trial before commencing construction
on any more OF her class.
.Gtboh Britain it will be remembered
tdSes6. y only power having attaches or
observers on japanese ships during the
Russo-Japanese war, while expert
British constructors we're given every
opportunity of learning wherein the
ships of Japan proved weak or strong
as the case might be These men
were busy from start to finish Of the
war and Immediately after the battle
Of tile Sea of Japan came home with
their data, which was submitted with
suggestions, to a special committee on
which sat not only the most experien-
ced naval experts but the director OF
naval construction, Lord Kelvin, and
number of the leading ship builders.
The Dreadnough is the outcome Of
their deliberations, an embodiment OF
the lessons Of the late war n the far
east a ship apparently invincible,
capable at one discharge of her guns
OF throwing with unparelled force
twice as much metal as any foreign
man-of-war afloat, while her armor
will render her immune from attacks
by any enemy's guns and, some claim,
even against torpedoes fired at the
usual battle range. The details Of the
areadnought's construction remain a
cret, SO we'll has the admiralty
srded the plans. Efforts Of naval
wches to gather information for
governments have been fruitless
Formation is forthcoming, the
.2Ato all enquiries being the can
Il sfehat Great Britain intends to
secrecy as to what her ex-
Law ned as a result of Japan's
experiences for one year and by rush
ing to completion the Dreadnought,
will gain a year in naval construc-
tion over all other powers except her
ally. Usually when ships are building
a board is placed at the head of the
slip giving her name, displacement,
principal dimensions, horsepower and
speed. In the case of the Dread
nought not an item in the design is
revealed, the board containing the
simple sentence, "His MaJesty's Ship
Dreadnought, commenced October ,,
1905"
When ready for sea the ship will
dlsplace 1880 tons but this is the
least remarkable thing about her, for
besides che ideas introduced as a result
of the far eastern war Britain is plac-
ing on her new fighting machine the
heaviest armament ever carried by a
ship. In the past British vessels have
carried four twelye-inch guns, throw
ing $50 pound shells; the Dreadnought
Will have ten of these weapons Of
new type, with a muzzle energy Of 49,-
56s, as compared with the 33622 guns
carried, an increase in power of 80 per
cent. In great sea fight the Dread
nought will be able to discharge every
minute ten projectiles weighing $500
bounds with sufficient velocity to send
<them 25 miles or to penetrate about
sixteen inches Of the hardest armor at
a range Of about two miles.
Unlike alll British and foreign battle
ship built in the last thirty years the new