Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-06-30
CHANGES IN WA.RSH|PS:
Plans to Make United States
Vessels Ready For Battle.
GREATER USE OF ELECTRICITY

Much Of the Mechanism to Be Con-
troIlsd by It-Most Conspicuous
Change 10 In Color sehsme-Fire
Control Masts to DispIaes Old Mill
tary Style.
The sixteen battleships of the At
lantic feet will go from the navy
yards, where they are now being over
hauled and locked, on June Is radical
ly changed in outward appearance.
The vessels will practically be in q
condition for action to degree which
has never before prevailed in the ma
val service in time Of peace and when
there has been no prospect Of war.
These important changes are mainly
the result of experience gained during
the circumnavigating cruise of the
feet, which Secretary Meyer says cost
the government $500, 900 above what
would have been the cost Of mainte-
nance and operation had the ships re-
manned in home waters.
The most conspicuous change which
the civilian observer will recognize is
in the color of the vessels. The hull
small boats and, indeed, all of the ex-
posed portions will be Of shade de-
scribed as dull gray, without the luster
to reflect the sun or otherwise add to
the prominence of the ship. 1t is the
color decided upon by the experts, as
least likely to attract attention and as
possessing the greatest degree of In.
visibility. This idea has been carried
out by the removal Of all the brass it,
tings, even to the dOorknobs, and in
cludes the abandonment Of the bow
ornaments and the gilt letters of the
ships names.
The removal Of the bow ornaments
is justified not only as a means Of tax
ing from the ship conspicuous fea-
ture, but as accomplishing a reduc-
ton in the weight carried by each YES.
sci. The policy Is to reduce these
weights so as to bring each vessel
down to fighting trim, carrying only
those things Of practical value in at
tack, which Is considered before the
factor of defense. There has been an
elimination Of some Of the boats car
ried by the battlsships, with the sub
stituttOn Of motor for row or SAIL
boats. 50 that time may be saved and
the burden reduced. 1t In In this con-
nection that there has been a removal
Of what is known as top hamper.
Much Of the material which has nth
erto made the main deck of q battle
ship an overcrowded platform has
been placed below deck, out Of sight
and range of an enemy's shots, or has
been entirely eliminated.
Another feature which has been
tried out successfully Is the method Of
carrying ammunition. Some Of this
will be stored in the turret, where it
will be conveniently at hand and
where it is considered quite as safe to
those who handle it as II it were
stored In the she'll rooms below the
turret. This makes possible an emer-
gency supply of pro3ecdles, with
saving In the time of handling and
increase In the rapidly
Of fire. The problem Of taking care Of
powder has engaged expert attention,
and there Is now being adopted sys-
TEN Of cooling the magazines 80 that
there can be maintained uniformity
Of temperature as a protection against
accidental ignition.
A conspicuous change II the installa-
ton Of the fire control masts and the
removal Of the old military masts.
The new structures are Of steel pip
Ing, so 1nterlaced as to resist attack
and remain In position, no matter IL
the enemy succeeds in hitting the
mast and cutting the metal in many
places. The platforms at the top are
to be used by the range finders in de-
the distance from the enc
my. This requires an elaborate sys.
:em Of electrical communication, which
Is also being installed and which will
be tried out during the target practice
to be held in August or September,
probably of the Virginia capes.
Electricity is being used to a greater
extent than ever before, and much OF
the mechanism on board the ships Is
now to be controlled In that way.
This is especially 80 In the turning Of
he turrets, which can be regulated to
/ degree hitherto impossible and with
/ nicely Of movement that renders 1t
possible to describe the complete arc
II the turret at so deliberate a rate rs
o be lmpercepuble to an observer.
The seaxchlights- have been taken from
he positions they have hitherto occu- |
lied and been hung on the skeleton
nasts. LIN the coming maneuvers It Il
imposed to ascertain II these positions |
re the most effective, and some twelve |
y fifteen Of the torpedo boats win b |
lsed In exercises In conjunction with |
he big ships. ~.
Many changes will be made In the
Of tie ships, and Whoc- |