The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-11
BRITAIN FLOATS
GIANT WARSH|P
ALI Records Broken in Building
Most Powerful Battleshlp
in the World.
LAUNCHED FOUR MONTHS
AFTER KEEL Is LAID
DreadnOught Will Be Fastest
of Her Class and Most Ter
rible AaOat.

PORTSMOUTH, England. Feb. ~
The monster battleship Dreadnought'
which when finished win have cost
81 ,5Oo. 900 was launched here today by
King Edward
The ceremony was the most simple
possible the King having vetoed all
decorations and pageantry on account
OF the death of his father-in-laN, KING
Christian There was a moment of sus-
pense after the King touched the cleo
trio button removing the last block, as
the huge ship hesitated and appeared
reluctant To take the water. But, ultl-
mately she glIded down the ways In
safety
Among the occupants Of the royal
stand were the American naval at
tache, Lieutenant-Command John h,
Gibbons, and the other attaches. the
admiralty officials and a few privileged
persons.
Most Powerful Afloat,
The launching OF the Drcadnought the
largest and most powerful battleship of
the worlds naviess marks the first
stage IN what the British admiralty
claims as the greatest achievement In
ndNdl Nll ottoD'S l'pbf
only a few days over four months ago,
work was commenced at Portsmouth
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 anoth-
er cause for pride In their navy,
Beats All Records.
Another twelve months. all going we'll,
the Dreadnought will be commissioned
and join the Atlantic feet. thus beat
Ing all previous records in battleship
building by six months There are two
reasons why work is being rushed on
the Dreadnought One is the great
saving in cost, but the chief reason Is
that the ship is to some extent an ex-
pertinent, and 1t Is desired To give her
a good trial before commencing con-
struction on any more of her class
Great Britain was the only power
having attaches or observers on Jap
anese ships during the Russo-Japan-
ese war, while expert British construc-
tors were given every opportunity of
learning wherein the ships of Japan
proved weak or strong as the case
might be.
She Is Invinciole.
These men were busy from start 10
finish OF the war and Immediately after
the battle of the Sea of japan came
home with their data, which was SUBJ
mitted with suggestions to special
committee, or which sat not only the
most experienced naval experts. but
the director OF naval construction, Lord
Kelvin. and a number OF the leading
private ship builders
The Dreadnought is the outcome OF
their deliberations, an embodiment OF
the lessons OF the late war In the far
East, q ship apparently invincible. ca
pable at one discharge OF her guns OF
throwing with unparalleled force twice
as much metal as any foreign man-of-
war now afioat, while her armor will
render her immune from attacks by
even against torpedoes, fired at the US
ual battle range.
Details of Construction.
The details of the Dreadnought's con-
struction remain secret, 80 well has the
admiralty guarded the plans. Efforts OF
naval attaches to gather information
for their Governments have been fruit
less No information Is forthcoming,
the answer to all inquiries being the
candid one that Great Britain intends
to maintain secrecy as to what her ex-
perts learned as result Of Japan's g
experiences for one year and by rush.
ing to completion the Dreadnought
Will gain a year. II not more, in naval
construction over all other powers ex-
cept her ally.
Not an Item Revealed.
Usually when ships are building a
board is placed at the head OF the slip
giving her name, displacement, princi-
pal dimensions. horsepower and speed
In the case of the Dreadnought not
an Item IN the design is revealed, the
board containing the simple sentence.
His Majesty's Ship Dreadnought,
commenced October 2. 1905
Heaviest Guns Ever Carried.
When ready for sea the ship will dis
place 1880 tons. but this is tho least
remarkable 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 carried by a ship, In
the past British vessels have carried
four 12-inch guns, throwing $50 pound
shells, the Dreadnought will have ten
Of these weapons of a new type, with
a muzzle energy OF 1865 foot tons, as
compared with the 80, 622 foot tons of
the guns carried in as recent battle
ships as the Majestic class, an increase
In power OF 80 per cent In a great
sea fight the Dreadnought will be able
to discharge every minute ten proieo-