The San Francisco call., 1906-07-17
Satisfies Them hat
She Will Meet All
Requirements.


The cruiser Milwaukee, just complet-
I'd at the Union Iron Works, was given
1er first spin on the bay yesterday in
preparation for her builders trial. She
will leave here July % for the Santa
Barbara Channel where she will be put
through her PAGES in earnest.
Although not driven at full speed, the
Milwaukee satisfied ner builders that
when the, Navy Department makes its
official test the cruiser will be able to
do everything called for in the specifi-
cations. She did not go outside the
heads. but will.test her mettle in the
ocean swells at least once before she
starts for the Santa Barbara Channel
The Milwaukee left the Union Iron
Works about $50 o'clock and put in the
day adjusting her compasses, testing
her steering gear and giving her ma
chinery a chance to find itself. Captain
ice was In charge OF the cruiser, and
will direct her movements at ali future
trials.
The Milwaukeesis off1ciallys classed as
a protected cruiser, in reality she is
an armored cruiser.
The Milwaukee, st. Louis and
Charleston were authorized by Con-
gress on June Z, 190o,s and will be used
| in warfare as commerce destroyers. The
Charleston is now at Brazil with the
Root party on board. She will come
here later to relieve the New York as
flagship of the Pacific squadron. The
St. Louis was accepted April 4, 1906.
She made 22.05 knots on her trial trip.
The Milwaukee's keel was laid in
1903, and she was launched September
10, 1904. The Milwaukee, Charleston
and st. Louis are in class by them
selves, and naval opinion is divided as
to their value in time of war. 1t was
the fate of the Russian cruiser Varia &
that opened the eyes of navy people to
what might happer vessel armed
as the Milwaukee and her two sisters if
they should happen to meet an enemy
with heavier guns. Six-inch guns are
tho heaviest pieces in their batteries.
The Variag was smaller but speedier
than Uncle Sans three new commerce
destroyers and, like them, had nothing
heavier than 6-inch guns. The Jap
anese warships, with their batteries of
greater caliber pounded the Variag into
scrap iron from distance well beyond
the range of her battery.
The Milwaukee has a steel hull, four
tunnels and two military masts.. She
Is not beautiful, bu> very impressive
and business-like. She has twin screws,
which are driven by two sets of ver-
| tical four r-cylinder, triple expansion en-
gines The engines get their inspira-
tion to the extent of 27,000 horsepower
from sixteen Babcock & Wilcox boil
ers. According to the contract under
which she was built the Milwauke
must make at least twenty two knots.
The Milwaukee is 424 feet long on the
water line and has Sc feet of beam.
She draws from 231-2 to 25 IL feet,
according to the state of her coal bunk
ers. Her displacement is about 5000
tens. For ordinary. cruising she will
carry $50 tons of coal and 1900 tons in
! time of war
Her vitals are protected on each
side by belt of 4-incn armor 200 feet
long and 71-2 feet wide. The coming
tower has 5-inch armor between the
man inside and the trouble without.
The Milwaukee is equipped with four
teen 6-inch guns, eighteen 4-pounders;
twelve 3-pounders, semi automatic;
four 1-pounders, automatic; eight
1-pounders, quick fire; ten machine
guns and two s-inch field guns for land
ing purposes. She has four torpedo
tubes. submerged.
For her 6-inch guns she carries $500
rounds of ammunition; for her IA
Founders, 1890 rounds, and 1880
rounds for her 1-pounders.
She will carry crew or 800 all told.
The Milwaukee cost S3,000.000, exclu-
sive of her arms and armament. Her
first commander will be Captain Cove,
who is already here and prepared to
! take charge as soon as the Navy De-
] partment accepts the cruiser.
The navy was represented on board
! yesterday by Commander Stevenson,
/ Lieutenant Commander Morgan and
/ T,iautenant JeSStlIl. Z