The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1908-11-10
GREAT BATTLESH|P
LAUNCHED TODAY
North Dakota, First of Americas
Fighting Ships of Dreadnought
Glass Helpless in Fore River

ny Associated Press.
Quincy, Mass, Nov. 1O-When the ereat
Prov OF the new battleship North Dakota
Strikes the waters of Fore River, where
she 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 Incident
ally new record for speed in the first
stage of battleship construction will have
been established. inasmuch as only 282
working days have been employed from
the time Of laying the keel until the day
of the launching.
AS the massive hull of the North Dakota
stood upon the ways ready for launching
itpresented none of the warlike appearance
OF the finished battleship. Save for few
temporary fittings, the decks were bare
and lacked the martial aspect supplied by
the great guns and secondary batteries,
which are to be installed later. Even the
great boilers of the fighting ship had not
been installed, in accordance with the |
usual custom of construction, and as a |
part of the preparations for the launching,
puffy little tugs were in waiting to warp
the gigantic yet helpless craft, alongside
the pier. at the yard
Before the conclusion of the 341-2
months allowed by the government for
delivery, however, the hull launched today
will present different aspect By that G
time, ten 12-inch breech loading long i
range rifles will have been placed in a
position, as well as fourteen 5-inch, rapid C
fire guns; four pound. and like number a
OF one-pcund semi-automatic guns; two c
3-lnch field pieces. two machine guns of n
5O calibre; and two 21-inch submerged "
torpedo tubes. This constitutes the active t
armament of the battleship. Protective "
armor to the extent of about eight inches, al
will cover practically every available spot tf
sich might be reached by an enemy.s
uns. and. as result of the recent naval W
difference. many minor details of addi M
Ional protection will also be added. 20
Then placed in commission, the North w
'akota will be $40 feet long on the load do
'ater line, with breadth of IS feet, tn
5-8 inches at the same point. The tel
myth over all will be about 518 feet. 8 ag
Iches The battIeship will have dis for
acement of 10000 tons. 1000 in excess thi
the original BritishDreadnough II is the
'imated that speed of more than q me
l0ss will be attained on her trial and ag'
at The battleship's horse power will ex- the
ed 25,OO0. Unlike her sister ship, the hib
'laware, now under construction at neN
'wport News, Va, the North Dakota will in
fitted with Curtis turbine engines
Guiding officers the crew will number
're than 800 men. 1t isestimated that M
en- Fmally taken over by the govern
mt the North Dakota will have cost at
st $7,000,OOO the contract price of
hull and machinery alone being S4.-
1000. Bv
Although the American battleship con- st
lction record is broken by the Mort er G
kota's builders, it does not closely man
roach that held by the British navy in ed a
construction Of the first Dreadnought Anne
keel of that vessel was laid in July mad
. ana on Oct z. of the same year, the bottl
'el was launched, and exactly a year bow
the ship had its Standardization
!. 1t is expected that the North Dakota 90
be ready for its first trial trip about lIA1
latter part Of August 1910, although
actual placing of the battleship into
mission may be delayed,
Captain Charles J. Badger. u. S. N.
ntly superintendent of the naval By Al
emy at Annapolis, will 60 the honor Par
eng the first commanding officer of fee hi
'remier 'Dreadnought" of the United McCai
IS navy. Baron
---- foreiel