New-York tribune., 1907-09-28
THE FLEET HELD BACK.
C4NNOT SAIL ON TIME.
additional Changes for 4dmirat
Euons's BattIeshnps.
frrnrn The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington. Sept. 21.-The departure OF the
Atlantic feet for the Pacifsc may be delayed as
she result Of a decision reached to-day that DE-
Gore sailing every battleship must be equlppeu
,itb a complete fire control system, at least as
.,,r,a+e as II is POSSIBLE TO install naval
,-eeseI II is estimated that this VIII MAKE
,,ocessarv the detention of every battleship in
,be navy yard at least fifty days in ADDITION 10
,bo detention already estimated for other
rhanges and repairs
The new system will consist Of a number OF
,,;,fat,,re central telephone stations, one Tor
..a, ba1tarv 50 that the officer in command
,,,-i,e received the range from the officer max
.,- -re .observa tions can instruct that he ne
,-rnerted by telephone with the commanders
Of III the Pinch guns, for instance anu '0i-
then communicate the range and hrlhs olue. >
20 all the commanders of l2-inch guns si"'
.aneousl.- Another central station VIII coIlieo'
with all the 10-inch guns another "lth an 'i'e
6;nch guns. another with all the 5-lnch guns
and so on. so that for each size OF weapon -
-be armament a control station Will he reQuIISH
In addition to the telephone system me Pi
+ ,re+a1r,ent or speaking tubes will be consul
erablv augmented. improved conlhluili'
;ng necessary. in the estimation of the construo
tors 10 facilitate accurate firing WAere 'i
range Is constantly changing, as it Wouio oe -
,,.+11e when the conditions would be quite IN
.-o,+ from, those attending target prac'0e'
to-a the vessels proceed at a given sqeed on d
direct course -he
r, this connection attention is called TO 'he
<act that when the British navy conducts taIE'.
,,rac.;ce the course Of the vessel Is challs0d
-r-ice during given series. so that new IaIIeN'
must be calculated for practically each siio''
whereas with the target practice OF our OWN
navy tbe shots are fired al target OF hHo"
-.rga while the vessel IS steaming on a sIisio
course. While the progress Of the VesseI rr1aheS
= continued alteration Of the range II can
easily he allowed for at a given rate OF chalse
each minute. -, -.o..,-,.
u ;s s,ecifed that all the central staUons
shall he placed below the protected deck III oi
der that they will be subjected to the minimum
d.,Se- fror1 the eneny's fire, and the eieCtIlo
,.I-inv v-iu also be installed with the ulHios'
care TO insure the least possible interference
from the eneuay's shCts-
The presenr orders for the assembling OF fhe
feet in Hampton Roads preparatory 10 se''Iis
c,,r on tf,e cruise provide for q rendezvous not
Later than December 10. which would permit OF
fifty days IN the yard before that time. were
.arret prgctice abandoned Immediately, but IL Is
estimated that the other work necessary 20 De
dane on the battIeships will require an average
..f thirty days. and 1t is as yet Impossible 10
foresea % what extent the work previously OF
aeraa and the installation of the fire conIoi
,,v4e,,, ~an he carried on simultaneously.
As the President e not only determined that
fha hattleshp feet shall sail for the Pacific put
VIII be disposed TO regard any prolonged delay
Nth ,iisannroval every nerve will be strained
"a accomplish the prescribed work by Decen1-
her /