New-York tribune., 1910-12-11
NEW DREADNOuCHTS
MAY HAVE 16-|NCH GUNS
Radical Changes in Plans Con-
tennpIated by the Navy
Department.
TURBINE ENGINES MAY GO
Thought Too Expensive-Secre-
tary Meyer Asks Congress
10 Increase Limit
Of Cost.
TURBINE ENGINES MAY GO
From The Tribune Bureau.

washington Dec 10-The naval Off
oo-s charged with the designing Of bat
.,.snins have been giving consideration
% -be tentative plans for the two ves-
-.7s of the type for which Secretary
,rs,.ar has asked Congress to provide at
- nresent session. These battleships
III ,,-obably be larger than the two au-
..-izad Al the last session, although
ne 3 net considered absolutely neces-
cary IN increasing the fighting efficiency
# the vessel There may be return to
,,a reciprocating engine, as the turbines
have been found TO be about 80 per cent
more extensive in operation This is an
ir7norraut factor in long cruises, such as
,,,r5st Cexo olive on American warShips-
one Of the propositions under considero
lion ! an increase in the thickness Of
the armor, even if there has TO be a
decrease in the speed by the lessening of
he weights represented by the engines.
The theory Of this is that a vessel with
thicker .arnor does not need the extra
Epeod 70 get cut Of the way Of an enemy
and can STAY IN 4 fight and run in closer
z.itf1 the additional protection.
AT important new feature which has
been under consideration and which has
not been approved as Vet is the increase
il the caIi1re Of the guns Of the main
battery from 14-inch to 16-inch- This
= one Of the most radical changes which
has been contemplated Some Of the
c@Cers believe it is a mistake 70 adopt
ne larger caIibre which would mean that
eight. and possibly not more than six,
guns would be carried in place Of twelve
guns Of 14inch Calibre. But II has been
figured cut that eight. or even six 10
inch guns viii do the damage Of twelve
T4-inch guns. A 14-inch shot may nol
penetrate where q 16-inch projectile WILL
thus doing damage which Will compen-
Fare for the reduced number Of guns.
conservative naval officers adhere TO the
belief that the 14-inch gun viii answer
r1 purposes OF attack. and some OF them
ere inclined 70 share the view OF Slr
william White. the British naval con-
.--7,cror. that the 12-inch gun is suf1l-
Gent for all purposes. There Is, now
Ser z progressive element in the navy
,-a5A ND Of officers who believe the
United states should go ahead of All
otrer nations and build battleship WITH
7f-inch guns. the calibre of gun repre-
sanring the real destructive power loT
which the battleship exists The other
,.srscrerfstfcs. IL is maintained, shoulo
17a subordinate 70 the maximum power
- the hitting factor. The question OF
-, ralil,ra for the new bettlesnlps,
-t.erarore PROMISES TO be the occasion
ar,sr-,a+ea discussion in the Navy De-
: 5artment.
sec-a+a-v Neyer's propositions TO N
crease the limit of cost Of the New forh
ind +be Florida. the former from so'ooo'-
600 "a 100. 600 and the latter from So
900 400 To Sc. 4a0.0 600, have been received
~ the House Committee on NaVaI Al
saira Nr. Never says the effect Oh Lhe
.,q7-+ hol1r law. as shown by the bid Oh
che Newuort News yard for the 1exas'
,,aned On December 1. was TO increase
.be total cost Of the contract built snip
about o11a per cent. and the estimates
srou. the New York Navy Yard Tor the
New York 10y S1.5o0ooo cost q ton
r. normal displacement estimated at
about 1900 tons) Of S21I a., as COM
rared with q cost Of $171 15 ton OF
normal displacement for the Wyoming
The Wyo1ning's normal displacement is
1000 tons less than the New York and
the contract price is S4,JGo.oo0-
secretary. Meyer inclosed an opinion of
Attorney General Nickersham in regard
TO the application Of the eight hour law
20 private shjpbuilding establishments
The Attorney General holds that if the
5ens--n7eut cannot build the New York
within the limit already fixed II would
be improper TO proceed further without
additional legislation. The Florlda, 10 be
7n1lil1 II the New York Navy Yard, VIII
- ,-o,7e--7,Cred at a cost Of S2G3 p ton
II normal displacement, as against
S7Sn 81 for the Utah. whose contrect
,,,ioa fs 81. 946. 600. The committee VIII
consider these items when the building
,,rogTanme OF the appropriation Dill Is
reached