Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-03-04

ships, each mounting Twelve lZ-lncl
Iguns similar to the Arkansas an,
Wyoming. There is no doubt in tn
minds of members of the Naval Com
mittee that the 27,OOO-ton ships will b.
built.
The decision to introduce 14-incf
lguns is the most important reached il
recent naval evolution. These guns
are the most powerful weapons in the
world. They are of longer range and
even more accurate than the most
modern Finch guns, and their intro
duction by America will mean that
other nations will have to follow suit.
These guns fire proiectile that
weighs l, 400 pounds, and they have an
effective fighting range of over six
miles, at which distance they can
penetrate the usual thickness of II
inches of the latest type of Krupp steel,
the maximum thickness of most armor
belts at the waterline. At 5000 yards,
over five miles, now the battle fighting
range, these 14-inch guns will be able
to penetrate about 12.5 inches of the
hardest Krupp steel as compared with
II inches in the case of the latest type
OF American Finch gun.
The total length of range of the A.
inch guns is over 25 miles, or more
than half the distance between Wash
ington and Baltimore. Armed with
guns Of this type, fleet stationed
below Annapolis could drop shells
through the roof of the City Hall in
Baltimore with comparative case. At
distances greater than 5000 yards the
penetration of steel would be of course,
less at a progressive ratio until the full
force of the shot is spent at it's extreme
range, where there would be no pen
etration at all.
Secretary Mayer says the proposed
battleships would not be too large to
enter the four big dry docks to be en-
larged under authority of this years
naval bill in order to accommodate the
Arkansas and Wyoming. There is now
no naval dock in this country. that will
take either of these 26,000-ton battle
ships. In order to provide for them
four docks, two on each coast, will be
greatly enlarged. No floating docks
will be authorized this year, and while
this floating drydock proposition had
behind it the strong support of the
Maryland delegation, the House COM
mittee decided not at this time to au-
thorizee such docks, but to provide
funds for charging the present docks.
These four docks, when completed,
will each be as wide as the Panama
Canal locks, 100 feet, and over 700 feet
long.
No. dock, at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard, under construction, will be
made larger SO as to accommodate the
Arkansas. The new dock at Norfolk
will be heightened for that purpose.
The Puget Sound and Pearl Harbor
docks will also be heightened.
The Naval Committee is expected to
provide next winter for two more large |
docks by authorizing the rebuilding of
the present No. dock at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard and to authorize an entirely
new dock of large size at Norfolk.
Two GOLFERS will be granted of about
II, 500 tons cargo and bunker carrying
and generally similar to the
new collier now building at the Mary
land Steel Works, Baltimore.
Members of the House Naval Com
mittee say that Secretary Meyer did
not state that he was planning the con-
struction of a $1,000 battleship to be
armed with battery of IA 14-inch
guns and costing $1S,00O,00O. Secretary
Meyers reference. which he made to
$1,000 tons displacement in ship, was
in response to a question from a men,
Der who wanted to know how many
tons ship would have to displace in
order to mount II 14-inch guns. Mr..
Meyer replied the displacement would
not be less than $1,000 tons.
The armored cruiser Lion, laid down
by Great Britain in November, 1909, is
The largest ship now under construction
in the world. She will have dis
placement of $3.50 tons, carry s L.
inch guns and Will have speed %
knots.