Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-12-15
SHIP MONTANA
IS LAUNCHED
New Cruiser Is Powerful
Addition to Uncle
Sans Navy

! 49, ~ 4',.-.4 ->-tt1, Va, Dec. 15.--
| The armored cruiser Montana was
launched today at the yards of the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
dock company in the presence of dis
tinguished guests from the state for
which the vessel is named and a num-
ber of navy ana army officials. As the
big hulk left the ways and took her
maiden plunge in the rippling waves
Of the James river, Miss Minnie Con-
rad of Great FANS, raised the berib-
boned bottle of champagne and d. shed
| it against the receding wall OF steel,
exclaimine; Il christen thee Montana."
As the Montana glided into the river
there was great cheer from the spec
tators, the band played 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner" and the steam
whistles in the shipbuilding plant ana
on the vessels in the harbor gave the
new defender of the flag loud ana
enthusiastic welcome
Powerful Sec Fort.
OF 14.500 tons displacement the
Montana will be one of the most pow
erful cruisers constructed. In nearly
every detail she is sister ship to the
Tennessee and the Washington, ths
two crack cruisers that were selected
to escort President Roosevelt on his
recent trip to Panama. That this new
type Of ship 10 the coming cruiser and
a desirable adjunct to the navy h ~
prevailing epinion among naval con-
structors and engines1e
The naentanas length on water line
is 6o2 feet; breadth at load water lire.
70 feet f0h inches; mean draught on
trial displacement, ~ feet; mean
draught at maximum load, ~ feet;
coal bunker capacity 2ooo tons. The
steaming radius at ~ knots win 10
$500 knots; steaming radius at fun
speed, about 3,1oo kns1A
Cost Of Strong Arner.
The armor Of the Montana Is OF sum
cient thickness to Withstand the In
pact Of projectiles nred at hghting
range from vessels carrying guns OF
the same cahbre as those she carries.
The armor-p plate Arotection ranges
from nine inches for ~ turrets to I'VE
inches for the belt
The cruiser will have very heavy
armament. The main battery will con-
sist Of four 10-inch breech -loadinr
rifles, 45 calibre in hngth; is e-inch
rapid-fire. SO calibre In length. The
secondary battery whl have 2s s-inch
rapid-fire guns. 70 3-pounder auto
matte and two 1-pounder rapid Are
guns, two s-inch field pieces, two ma
chine guns Of 80 calibre, and SIX auto
matte guns Of 80 calibre.
The ammunition and sheel rooms
win be so arraneed that one -haif the
total supply Of ammunition win r.
carried at each end af the ship. For
handling six-inch and three-inch am
munition the ship will he provided WITH
a central passage extending COM
pletely from the forward to the after
marazines. and four side passages AZ
each end to extend a sunicient ais
tance forward and ait to provide for
handling the ammunition within the
armor protection on the decks above.
Engines Arc Powerful.
The propelling engines will be Of the
vertical. twin-screw. four -cylinder.
triple-expansion type Of q combined IN
dicated horse power Of $4,000. The
steam pressure will be $50 pounds and
the stroke four feet The engines WIN
be located In two separate watertight
compartments.
The arrangement Of quarters pro-
vides ample recommendations for the
following complement: One COM
manding ofiicer. one nag oficer, one
chief OF staff, nineteen wardroom ON
GERS. twelve junior o1hcers. ten war
rant officers, s14 men. including 90
Marines total Of 8ss.