Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-05-12
new bATTLEsH|P
IS SET AFL0A7
Launching Of the Florida at New
York Navy Yard,
PRESIDENT TAFT NOT THERE
Miss Elizabeth Fleming christens the
Mighty Dreadnausht Powerful
Armament That viii Be
Carried by the Vessel.

New York, May 12--In the presence
OF Secretary Of the Navy Meyer. Gov
ernor Hughes and distinguished
gathering of army and navy officials.
Miss Elizabeth L. Fleming. daughter
of the late ex-Gov. Francis p. Elem.
ing of Florida, broke bottle OF
champagne against the bow of the
new United States battleship Florida
today, and the fourth dreadnaught of
the United States navy glided grace
fully down the ways into the East
river.
President Taft had intended to be
present, but public business prevent
ed.
The launching took place at the
New York navy yard, where the yes
sci has been in course of construc-
ton since March 8. 1909, and owing
to the size of the vessel and the
presence of so many distinguished
guests it was the most notable affair
of this kind taat has been held in
recent years. After the exercises,
Secretary Meyer was the guest Of
honor at dinner given to the me-
chanics and laborers employed In the
shipyard.
Built by the Government.
Another important fact In the
launching of the Florida is that the
vessel is being built in the govern.
ment shipyard and her total cost Will
not exceed $6,0O0,000, which is about
$3,000000 less than the price that
would have been paid to private
company. The vessel Is now 62 per
cent completed and the government
hopes to have her ready by July "a of
this year, the same day that her sis
ter ship, the Utah, which was recent
ly launched at Newport News, Is un.
der contract to be completed.
The Florida is being fitted out for
flagship and will complete the first
division of dreadnaughts in the Unit.
ed States navy, which include the
Delaware, the North Dakota and the
Utah. The Delaware and the North
Dakota were the first of the dread
naught type to be built for this coun'
try land have displacement OF 10000
tons.
Her Heavy Armament.
The Florida. however, like the Utah
will have displacement OF 1925
tons and will carry practically the
same armament as the Utah, consist
ing OF ten 12-inch guns as a main
battery and 16 fve-inch rapid-fire
guns, four three-pounder salute guns,
two three-inch field pieces and two
machine guns. The vessel will also
have two submerged torpedo tubes.
The length of the new ship is $40
feet: her breadth SO feet 2B inches;
draft % feet inches; coal carrying
capacity, $500 tons; oil fuel carrying
capacity, 1873 tons; and the speed Is
to be not less than 20A knots.
Two steel wire towers, like those
that have been installed on nearly all
the battleships, will be placed on the
new vessel. She will have five turrets,
each containing two Of the monster
12-inch guns, and they will be so ar
ranged that all ten guns can be filed
as broadside. Her armor belt fol-
lows the line of the 11-inch armor of
latest vessels Of the navy, that is,
thick armor belt protecting her maya
zine and vitals, with reduced thick.
ness covering the other parts Of the
ship. The armor Is so placed that the
ship cannot be vitally damaged by any
but the heaviest type Of guns when
fighting.
The Florida and Utah are now the
largest vessels in the United States
navy, and with the two monster ships
of 10000 tons each that are now in
course Of construction, and two more
that undoubtedly will be authorized
by the present congress, this country
will hold her position of second place
among the naval powers of the world,
England being first.