Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-10
North Dakota Exceeds in
Size and Power Brit
ish Dreadnoughts.
MANY SEE CEREMONY
Length $40 Feet. Displacement
10000 Tons and Engines
$4,000 Horse Power.

Quincy, Mass, Nov 10.-The battle
ship North Dakota. the first American
war vessel of the Dreadnought class.
was successfully launched at the yard
of the Fore River Shipbuilding COM
pany at Quincy Point today.
10000 People There.
Quincy, Mass, Nov. 10.-More than
10000 people gathered at the yards of
the Fore River Shipbuilding company
today to witness the launching of
Americas most powerful sea fighter,
the North Dakota.
Quincy, Mass. Nov. 1O-When the
North Dakota strikes the waters of
Fore river. where it is TO be launched
Today, the United States navy will
have received formally the bulky body
of the first fighting ship of the So
called Dreadnought class. Incidental
ly. a new record for speed in the first
stage of battleship construction will
have been established. inasmuch as
only 2S2 working days have been en-
ployed from the time of laying the
keel until the day of the launching.
Not Warlike on Ways
AS the massive hull of the North
Dakota stood upon the ways ready for
launching it presented none of the
warlike appearance of the finished
battleship. Save for few temporary
fittingsxfhs-dseks We're bare and
lacked the martial aspect supplied by
the great guns and secondary batter
les. which are 10 be installed later
Even the great boilers of the fighting
ship had not been installed, in accord
ance with the usual custom of con-
struction. and as a part of the prep
ar4tions for the launching. puffy little
tugs We're in waiting TO warp the gil
santic yet helpless craft alongside the
pier at the yard.
Different i'm "a Few Months.
Before the conclusion of the 34R
months allowed by the government
for delivery. however. the hull launch
ed today will present a different as
pect. BY that time. 10 I2-inch breech
loading long-range rifles will have
been placed in position, as well as ii
5-inch rapid fire guns, four three-pound
and like number of one-pound semi
automatic guns: two three-inch field
pieces, two machine guns of so cali
Der. and two 2l-inch submerged tor
pedo tubes. This constitutes the act
i've armament of the battleship Pro-
tective armor to the extent of about
eight inches will cover practically
every available spot which might be
reached by an enemy's guns, and, as
a result of the recent naval confer
ence. many minor details of additional
protection will also be added.
SO Feet at Water Line.
When placed in commission the
North Dakota will be $40 feet long on
the load water line. with a breadth of
S5 feet SIS inches at the same point.
The length over all will be about SIS
feet inches. The battleship will
have displacement of 10000 tons.
1000 in excess of the original British
Dreadonught. 1t is estimated that a
speed of more than q knots will be al
tanned on its trial. and that the battle.
ships horse power will exceed 25,000
Unlike its sister ship. the Delaware
now under construction at Newport
News, Va. the North Dakota will re
| fitted with Curtis turbine engines In
Guiding officers the crew will number
| more than 900 men. 1t is estimated
| that when formally taken over by the
government the North Dakota will
|