The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-05-27
CHANGES IN NARSH|PS
Plans to Make United States
Vessels Ready For Battle.
GREATER USE OF ELECTRICITY

Change Is IN color Schems-FFe
Control Masts to DispIace 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 10 radical
ly changed In outward appearance.
The vessels will practically be in a
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 $1,5oOO00 above what
would have been the cost of mainte-
nance and operation had the ships re-
mained 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 a shade de-
scribed as dull gray, without the luster
to reflect the sun or otherwise add to
the prominence of the ship. It 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 ali the brass fit
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 means Of tax
ing from the ship a conspicuous fea-
ture, but as accomplishing a reduc-
ton in the weight carried by each yes
sell 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 battleships, with the sub
stitution Of motor for row or sail
boats. so that time may be saved and
the burden reduced. 1t is In this con-
nection that there has been removal
of what is known as top hamper.
Much Of the material which has hith-
erto made the main deck of a battle
ship an overcrowded platform has
been placed below detk. 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 1t is considered quite as safe to
those who handle 1t as IL It were
stored in the shell rooms below the
turret. This makes possible an emer-
gency supply of projectiles, with a
saving In the time Of handling and a
corresponding increase In the rapidity
of fire. The problem Of taking care of
powder has engaged expert attention,
and there is now being adopted sys-
tenn Of cooling the magazines so that
there can be maintained uniformity
of temperature as protection against
accidentaf ignition.
A conspicuous change Is the installa-
ton of the fire control masts and the
removal of the old military masts.
The new structures are of steel pip
fv,n 3rafn - II
and remain in position, no matter IL
the enemy succeeds LII 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-
termining the distance from the enc
my. This requires an elaborate sys-
TEN of electrical communication. which
is also being @1nstalled and which win
be tried out during the target practice
to be held in August or September,
probably Off the Virginia capes.
Electricity is being used to 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 SO IN the turning OF
the turrets, which can be regulated to
a degree hitherto impossible and with
q nicely Of movement that renders 1t
possible to describe the complete are
of the turret at so deliberate rate as
to be imperceptible to an observer
The searchlights have been taken from
the positions they have hitherto occu-
pied and been hung on the skeleton
masts. In the coming nlaneuvers it is
purposed to ascertain Il these positions
are the most effective and some twelve
or fifteen of the torpedo boats will be
used In exercises In conjunction with
the big ships.
Many changes will be made in the
superstructure OF the ships, and wher-
ever possible the temporary bridges
and cabins will be renewed 1t is
probable that some Of these structures
will be replaced. but 1t is desired LII
the coming summer to ascertain what
can be permanently omitted with ad-
vantage In The maEeuy cling of the
ships. Internally many minor changes
will be made
These are few Of the changes be-
Ing made on the ShinS of fba Atlantic