Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-10
BIC SHIP IS LAUNCHED
Simple Ceremony at Ports
mouth, England.
WARSHIP DREADNAUGHT
Most Powerful Vessel of the Worlds
Navies.
NEW STAGE IN NAVAL MATTERS
The Embodiment of the Lessons of
the Late War in the
Far East.

PORTSMOUTH, England, Feb
ruary Io.-The monster battleship
Dreadnaught, which when finished
will have cost $7,5oo,ooo, was
launched here today by King Ed
ward.
The ceremony was the most SIM
pie imaginable, the king having
vetoed all decorations and pagean-
try on account of the death of his
father-in-law, King Christian. There
was moment OF suspense after the
king touched the electric button re-
moving the last block as the huge
ship hesitated and appeared reluc-
tant to take the water. But ulti
mately she glided down the ways III
safety.
Among the occupants OF the royal
stand were the American naval at
tache, Lieut. Commander Ohm Fl.
Gibbons, and the other attaches, the
admiralty officials and a few priv
ileged persons.
The launch of the Dreadnaught, the larg
est 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 Oc
tober >, 1903. only few days over four
months ago. work was commenced at Ports
mouth on the vessel. the first of what is to
be known the Dreadnaught class. The
promise was made then that she would be
launched within six months. The admiralty
have more than made good their boast, and
Britlshers have another cause for pride in
their navy. Another twelve months, all
going well. the Dreadnaught will be COM
missioned and join the Atlantic fleet, thus
beating all previous records In battleship
building by six months. There are two rea-
sons why work is being rushed on the
Dreadnaught. One is the great saving in
cost. but the chief reason Is that the ship
is TO some extent an experiment, and 1t is
desired to give her good trial before COM
mencfng construction on any more of her
class. Great Britain. 1t will be remembered
was the only power having attaches or OBJ
servers on Japanese ships during the Russo
structors were given every opportunity of
learning wherein the ships of Japan proved
weak or strong, as the case might be. These
men We're busy from start to finish OF the
war, and Immediately after the battle of the
Sea of Japan came home with their data
which was submitted with suggestions to
special committee. on which sat not only the
most experienced naval experts but the d.
rector OF naval construction, Lord Kel-
win. and a number of the leading private
shipbuilders
The Dreadnaught is the outcome of their
deloerations an embodiment of the les
sons or the late in the far east a
ship apparently invincible, capable at one
discharge of her guns of throwing with un-
paraHe!ed force twice as much metal as any
Foreign man-of-war afioat while her armor
Will render her immune from attacks by
any enemys guns, and some claim. even
against torpedoes, fired at the usual bat-
tie range. The details of the Dreadnaught's s
construction remain a secret so we'll nave
the admiralty guarded the plans. Efforts
OF naval attaches to gather information for
their governments have been fruitless. No
Information is Forthcoming. the answer
TO all inquiries being the ca..did one that
Great Britain intends to maintain secrecy
as to what her experts learned as a re-
suit OF Japan's experiences for one year
and by rushing to completion the Dread
naught Will gain year II not more in
naval construction over all other powers
except her ally.
Heaviest Armament Carried by a Ship
Usually when ships are building a board
IS placed at the head of the slip giving
her name displacement. principal dimen-
sions, horse power and speed. In the case
of the Dreadnaught not an item In the de-
sign is revealed. the board containing the
simple sentence. His maJesty's ship
Dreadnaught, commenced October .. 1905. -
When ready for the ship will displace
1880 tons. but this is the least remark
able thing about her. for besides the ideas
Introduced as a result of the far eastern
war Britain is placing on her new fighting
machine the heaviest armament ever car
ried by a ship.
In the past British vessels have carried
four 12-inch guns throwing S50-pound shells
the Dreadnaught will have ten of these
weapons OF a new type with a muZzie en-
ergy OF 9.J6S, compared with the 1851
OF the guns carried in as recent battleships
as the Majestic class, an increase In power
of 30 per cent. In great sea fight the
Dreadnaught will be able to discharge
every minute ten projectiles weighing $500
pounds with sufficient velocity to send
them twenty-five miles or to penetrate
about sixteen inches of the hardest armor
at a range of about two miles.
Unlike all British and foreign battleshipS
built in the past thirty years. the new adj
dtion to the feet will carry no weapon
smaller than the great Pinch piece except
eighteen 3-inch quickfirers for repelllng at
tacks by torpedo craft She will mount
neither 9.2-inch I.5-inch nor 6-inch guns
she will be the biggest warship afoat, and
she will have only the biggest and mos
powerful guns. The secrets which will b'
Incorporated in the huge hull are still hid
den, hut IT is known that they tend tC
economy as we'll as efficiency. The Dread
naught will cost 10 per cent per ton less
than recent battleships British built al
though she Will represent the last word ir
all details of her construction.
First Driven by Turbines.
In another respect the Draaanau0ht vuiI
be unique. She will be the first battIeshiI
In the world TO DO driven by turbines
These engines will supply the power fol
four propelers. two more than any previ
ously built British battleships, whicl
should make her the fastest ship of hel
class afoat. Another advantage OF tn,
turbines, as shown BY the performances O