New-York tribune., 1910-12-11
NEW pREADNOUGHTS
MAY HAVE 16-|NCH GUNS
Radical Changes in Plans Con-
tempIated by the Navy
Department.
TURBINE ENGINES MAY GO
Thor Too Expensive-Secre-
tt Meyer Asks Congress
o Increase Limit
of Cost.
TURBINE ENGINES MAY GO
5F-om The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. Dec. 1o-The naval Off
.e-s charged with the designing Of bat
+Iss4frs have been giving consideration
- the tentative plans for the TWO yes
se7e ~ the type for which Secretary
Never has asked Congress TO provide at
t,,e present session These battleships
u-iu probably be larger than the two au-
.borized at the last session, although
,bis is not considered absolutely neces-
ss-v in increasing the fighting efficiency
of the vessel. There may be return to
the recinrocating engine, as the turbines
have been found to be about 30 per cent
more EXPENSIVE in operation This is an
important factor IN long cruises. such as
must devolve OF American warships
one Of the propositions under considera-
ton IS an increase liz the thickness of
the armor. even il there has to be q
cec-eas Sc in the speed by the 1essening OF
the weights represented by the engines
The theory Of this is that a vessel with
thicker arnor does not need the extra
speed 70 get out Of the way Of an enemy
and can stay in fight and run in closer
with the additional protection.
An important new feature which has
been under consideration and which has
Tot been approved as Vet is the increase
II The caIibre Of the guns Of the main
battery from 14-inch TO 16-inch- This
Is one Of the most 70 deal changes which
has been contemplated Some Of the
officers believe II Is a mistake to adopt
the larger caIibre which would mean that
eight. and possibly not more than six,
guns would be carried in place Of twelve
guns Of 14-inch caIihre, But it has been
figured cut that eight. or even six. It,
inch guns viii do the damage of twelve
14-inch guns. 1f-inch shot may not
penetrate where 2 15-inch projectile will.
thus doing damage which Will compen-
safe for the reduced number of guns.
Conservative naval officers adhere to the
belief that the 14-inch gun viii answer
fIl purposes OF attack. and some of them
are inclined to share the view Of Sir
William White the British naval con-
s-tructor that the 12-inCh gun Is suft1-
Gent for all purposes There Is how
ever. q progressive element in the navy
made up Of officers who believe the
United states should 60 ahead of all
other nations and build a battIeship with
76-inch guns. the calibre OF gun repre-
sa77ring The real destructive power for
which the hattleship exists. The other
characteristics. it Is maintained. should
be subordinate 70 the maximum power
- The hitting factor. The question OF
----1 calfrre for the new battleships.
-fe-erore. promises u be the occasion
Il animated discussion in the Navy De
5sr,uent.
Sec-e-arg- Meyers propositions to IN
crease the limit Of cost Of the New 1 horh
and the Florida the former from so,ev''-
600 70 s. .5G1 ol0 and the latter from go
tsrl coo ro So. 4Gl.6 .6ll. have been received
h The House Committee on NaEai Al
fairs NJ. Never SAYS the effect OF the
right hour law. as shown by the bid OF
-he Newporr News ward for the Texas
opened on December 1. was to increase
me total COS. of the contract built snip
shout 21l2 per cent. and the estimates
from the New York Navy Yard Tor the
New York j,v 81. 800. .Uo4 2 cost ton
O. normal DISPLACEMENT ESTIMATED at
about 27.n00 tonsg Of s271 .. as com
pared with q cost of sill Il ton OF
normal displacement for the Wyoming
The Wvoning-s normal displacement Is
: Geo tons less than the New York and
the contract price Is 81, 100000
Secretary Never inclosed an opinion OF
Artorney General Wickersham in regard
20 The application Of the eight hour Law
~ private shipbuilding esta blishments'
The ATTORNEY General holds that II the
DEPARTMENT cannot build the New YORK
within the limit already fixed II would
r. Improper 70 proceed further without
additional legislation. The Florida 70 be
built al the New York Navy Yard. VIII
t,e constructed ~ cost of S253 n ton
<of normal displacement as against
81 81 81 for me Utah. whose contract
77rice Is s. Gas 600. The committed viii
consider these items when the building
r7~ograu7nae Of the appropriation bill Is
reached.