The Washington herald., 1907-03-03


1t Is hoped 20 obtain in the new United
States vessel by various means a greater
firing efficiency that that Of the Dread
nought Il will be impossible, Of course,
TO obtain the results that might be OBJ
tanned in a vessel Of the Fore River type.
To get the tremendous gun sweep that
the plans OF the Fore River ship provide
for was nice problem. Whether 1t can
be improved on is yet 10 be shown. All
the guns are In pairs in electrically con-
trOlled. balanced elliptical turrets. Five
Of these braces are on the center line,
each with an arc OF 29S degrees, except
in the case of the second one from the
forward, whose sweep is 2S4 degrees. The
two broadside turrets have an arc Of FIRE
Of $50 degrees each. AS the aftermost
pair Of the Pinch guns is eighteen
feet above the water line. the next brace
twenty-six feet, four pairs thirty-four
feet. and one pair foTty-twO. It has been
possible to utilize those guns more eff
GENTLY than ia any vessel yet designed.
Mention of Turbines.
There is no difference among the boIdest
and most successful OF naval experts as
to the efficacy Of the turbine styles OF
engines, although the United States ex-
perts are not yet converted to that style
OF engine. The Dreadnought relies on her
turbines altogether, and 1t has been found
that there is an almost complete absence
Of vibration. In its way. Pinch
gun is as delicate bit OF mechanism as
a small watch, and 10 get the hest results
from the man behind the gun, there must
be a steadiness when the range finders,
the feelers Of the big guns. are being
sighted. The Fore River plans provide
for turbine engines of the type most ap-
proved in this country and in others.
The fact that the Dreadnought is
equipped with turbines has not swayed
the United States navy experts. In the
plans for the new 20U0-ton battle ship,
1t IS set out that the design can be ar
ranged for the installation of either re-
ciprOcating or turbine machinery. out
line specifications for both types having
been prepared. Provision is also made
for the stowage of a large amount Of oil
fuel without in any degree reducing the
capacity Of the coal bunkers." That ca
pacity IS 10 be 2S00 tons in the United
States vessel and would be $500 tons in
the Fore River. The ship would have
quarters for about 1000 men.
Although the DreadnOught Is an ex-
ceptional vessel, she was put together
in wonderfully quick time, according to
cable dispatches Could any shIpbuild-
Ing firm in the Uninted States approx
mate the English recoVd?" a naval man
was asked recently. aprOpos of the new
ships 10 be built for the United States
in yards yet to be designated.
English Can Beat Us.
THE English can undoubtedly beat the
Americans in getting their ships ready"
he replied, but it is not exactly Just 70
the American shlpyaTds 70 make any
hard and fast comparisons. Take the
new vessel. or even that Fore River
ccmpany's battle ship of which you talk.
The period Of building would be computed
from the time the contract was signed
until the vessel was turned over to the
United States. In England they compute
from the time the keel is laid See the
difference; by the time the keel is laid
the English builders have assembled tons
and tons of material, and il Is then a
comparatively easy task to 80 ahead with
full speed. Between the time the con-
tract is signed in this country and the
time when the keel is laid, months and
months NAV eIapea