The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-11-10
Another Great Sea Fighter
The North Dakota Launched

FORE RIVER. Mass, Nov. 10
Uncle Sans new DreadnOught the
North Dakota. q 20.000-tOn fighting
monster of the seas, was launch he'd to-
day at the yards of the Fore River
Shipbuilding company. Miss Mary
Benton, of Fargo, n. D., who was ap-
pointed for that purpose by Governor
John Burke, of North Dakota, broke a
! bottle Of wine against the battleship
and formally christened it, Thousands
of people from Boston and other cities
witnessed the launching. and many
distinguished officials of the navy were
present
The launching of the North Dakota,
the first semi -DrradnOught type of
vessel to be built for the American ma
w, marks a new step toward the su-
premacy Of Uncle Sam on the high
seas. All records for speed We're broken
in her construction and while much
remains to be done in fitting the levi
athan for active service. all Indications
point to its completion many months
before the expiration Of the three-year
limit allowed by the government. The
keel of the big vessel was laid on De-
cember 16 last. and by October l last
the ship was - per cent. completed. 1t
is expected that the North Dakota viii
be in commission within two years
from the date of the laying of her keel,
which will break all records Of Ams"j
can shipyards When commissioned
she will be commanded by Captain
Charles j Badger, superintendent Of
The Annapolis naval academy.
The North Dakota is a sister ship Of
the Delaware in process of building at
the yards OF the Newport News Ship
building and Dry Dock company at
News. Va. on October /. the Delaware
was A per cent completed, according
to the official reports to the navy de-
partment \ fierce rivalry has marked
the construction of the sister ships.
The North Dakota and the Delaware
are almost precisely alike, each having
a long forecastle deck. extending from
the bow almost to the center Of the
vessel. The ten 12-inch guns are ar
ranged in five turretS, two TO turret.
the forward turret being so located
that the axes of it's guns are "a feet
above the water line. Just abaft this
turret is another the barbette of which
&c of sufficient height for its guns IL
clear the roof of the forward turret.
Abaft the break of the fOrecastle deck
and also situated on the axis of the
ship are two more 12-inch gun turrets
and abaft and near the stern is the fifth
and last of the big turrets.
The wonderful speed of these big
ships. u knots, makes every other bat
tIeshiD not turbine driven. a tortoise
like affair. In an action fleet OF
Ddeadnaughts might accept or decline
battle. as suited its convenience. II
could also choose its range and con-
troll the rate Of change of range.
Although the tremendous power of
concentration secured by the ten II
inch guns Of q Dreadnought IS the
nrincinal reason for the adoption or
this new type by all the navies OF the
world its cost is much less than four
small battleships aggregating the same
mower As to the question of malnte-
nance. il costs no more to Keep the big
shin in commission than the small one.
4 million year is about the expenses
Of il Strange as it may seem, 1t does
not REQUIRE so many officers to man IL.
Fewer men are necessary to serve the
fan Guns of one of our new Dread
nouehts than are required for all the
guns of the Missouri.
In combat such ships would conquer