Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-20
THE BIG SHIPS
Bids For the American Dread thoughts" Will Call For Outlay
 of About s2O, 100000
HOW THEY WILL LOOK

Washington, June 20.-Bids will be opened at the navy department at noon to-day for the construction of two American "Dreadnoughts" or what are officially known as battle ships Numbers 2S and 29, each to be of approximately 10000 tons dis placement, the cost of each not to exceed $6,000, 900 exclusive of armor and armament. The total cost of when completed is estimated to be $10, 0,O00,000.i Responsive to the invi- tations of the navy department and in accordance with the instructions to the naval board on construction, there were submitted various designs and sketches for the proposed vessels from shipbuilders and the naval con- structors. These in turn were sub mitted to naval board on designs, at the head of which was Assistant Secretary Newberry, which board re- ported that the 510 foot design of the bureau of construction (with officers quarters forward) was the most suit able. This board gave the opinion that vessel constructed on this de- sign would carry as heavy armor and as powerful armament as any known vessel of this class; would have a speed believed to be the highest prac- ticable for a vessel of this type and class, and have the highest practic- able readiness of action. with total coal bunker capacity of about 2,300 tons. speed on trial of 2l knots, a length on the load waterline of about .510 feet and an extreme breadth of about S5 feet and 25s inches. The armament is to be composed as fol- lows.
 Main battery-ten 12-inch breech loading rifles.
 Secondary battery-fourteen g. inch rapid fire guns, four 3-pounder saluting guns, four 1-pounder semi automatic guns, two 3-inch field pieces, two machine guns. calibre 80, two submerged torpedo tubes.
 The hulls ofthe vessels are to be protected by waterline belt of armor eight feet in width, whose maximum thickness Is eleven inches and whose cross section is uniform throughout the length of the belt. This belt armor gives effective pro- tection to the boilers, machinery and magazine spaces, and affords, in con nection with the casemate armor, an extensive compartmental sub-divi- sion, reasonable assurance of the maintenance of the stability of the vessel under battle conditions. The side above the main belt armor is protected by armor seven feet three inchs wide and of a maximum thick ness of ten inches. This armor is likewise of a uniform cross section throughout and in length is only slightly less than that of the main waterline belt armor. Above the main casemate armor, amidships, the side is covered by armor five inches in thickness, which affords protection to the smoke pipes. the major portion of the secondary battery of five inch guns, and the hull structure. Suit able athwart-ship and diagonal bulk heads are to be located at the ex- tremities of the belt and casemate armor, and a protective deck of suit able thickness is provided through. out the length of the vessel.
 The arrangement ofthe main bat tery guns is tob such as to permit broadside fire 25 per cent greater than that of the broadside fire of any battleship built, or. so far as known under construction. The average elevation ofthe axis of these guns is expected to be greater than that oi any known battleship. The arrange ment of the interior will give tft maximum regree of protection to all vital portions of the ship by means oi unusually effective compartmenta subdivisions. The actual total weight of hull and armor in the pro. posed esigns for the ships Is approxi. mately 5000 tons greater than in the largest battleship so far built. The design contemplates an arrangement for the installation of recpirocatine l turbine machinery.