Evening journal., 1906-09-01

II the history OF naval paseants should
ever employ type It viii be found that
the one which is to emblazon Ions Island
Sound on September 8 win mead the list
of all that ever took place in the waters
OF the Western world up TO this year OF
grace.
Officially described as q review OF the
Atlantic feet by tile President OF the
United states. this vast assemblage OF
war vessels is as much an object lesson
as was the armada which gathered on
spitehead at the time Of the Queens Jubi-
lee. 1t will be informing TO those who
look upon the fine array, and TO the unin-
formed it Will bring a realization Of the
place which this nation has taken as
sea power.
1t is but eight years since the war with
/ Spain. Had this country possessed then
the armament which Admiral Evans now
commands. there would have been 40
war; II would have been impossible This
then, Is o part Of our war insurance-our
insurance against war-which the assem-
blage will show. Besides there is that
other FAR flung battle line" which guards
d
force which Isl ON the Pacific station.
FORTY big sea fighters
Yes, It's much of an object lesson The
review viii show 40 war Vessels Of modern
construction. mounting ll7s guns VITA
sl2 officers and 1s.235 inenl In the array
viii be twelve magnidcent botteships-
the Maine, che Missouri, the Kentucky
the Kearsarge. the Louisiana. the Rhode
Island, the New Jersey the Virginia, inc
Alabama the Illinois, tie Iowa and the
Indiana. -af.-r ot t.a-,..f-r
OF these battleships not one is obsolete
or unworthy 20 hold her place ia the
battle line against the best that any pos
sible enemy could send to meet them. The
Indiana, sister ship OF the Oregon. is
the Oldest but a year ago she was ex-
tensively remodeiled and is now a better
ship than she was when commissioned
ten years ago. The Louisiana. the Rhode
Island, the New Jersey and the Virginia
are brand new and Of 1000 tons displace-
ment, and as fighting units arc not out
classed by anything in the world except
possibly, the British Dreadnought
All Of the other batleships are prime
vessels in prime condition. The four ar
mored cruisers. which will have place ia
the review as they would have in line of
battle are splendid modern ships Of 140lO
tons displacement, a 5000 mile cruising
radius, twenty-five knots speed and q
heavy battery. which enables them not
only to scout for the more heavily armed
and slower battleships. bus In them
selves become formidable antagonists IN
the battle line when battle Is joined and
after their scouting, would have enabled
the batleships to meet the enemy at al
advantage. or, at least. not to be engaged
at a disadvantage by the enemy.
An Ideal Battle Fleet.
These twelve battleshlps ana four ar.
mored cruisers, supplemented by the two
new .armored cruisers Tennessee ano
Washington. would be an ideal battle
fleet. Taking part in the review will be
four powerful coast defense monitors
the Puritan, Arkansas. Florida and Ne
vada. OF these the Puritan is the largest,
being Of 6OOO tons displacement and
carrying two powerful, double turrets
each Of which contains a pair Of twelve
inch guns The other threo are much
]
turret, carrying a pair OF the highest
powered twelve inch rifles.
IN their limited range Of action these
four vessels have all the characteristics
Of battieships. and the ten twelve inch
guns they carry would, in the smooth
waters Of Lond Island Sound. render
them more than the equal Of the celebrat.
ed Dreadnought, as they would present
much smaller targets and could be much
more readily manoeuvered.
Here is a table showing the number
and calibre Of guns carried by the fleet
13-inch guns ........................... q
12-inch guns ............................. g
s-inch guns ..... ......................... 4.
7-inch guns ........................... ],
6-inch guns ........................... is,
5-inch guns .......................... q
4-inch guns ......................... p