Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-07-17
Contract Sseed Requirement
Exceeded on Force Draft Run.
SLIGHT HITCH ABOARD
overhestlng Of Bearing at Start Pre-
vents Little Ship From Being Push
ed 10 Limit by Buiiders--Goes into
Commission Next Month.

Though handicapped by an accident
which occurred almost Immediately
after the trial started, the new United
States torpedo boat destroyer Roe
yesterday exceeded her contract
speed on the four hours forced draft
run off the coast OF Virginia. The
little ship averaged 29.6 knots an hour
during the test, this figure being i
of one knot in excess OF the required
speed.
. Steaming fifty miles off the Capes
the Roe started the final test at iO:oo
O'Clock yesterday morning. snort
time later the bearings in one OF the
engines became overheated and the
little craft was unable TO run at her
top speed because of the oyerheated
bearing The yard officials are conn.,
dent that had the accident not occur
red. the Roe would have made 81
knots an hour. On her standaridza-
ton test she averaged 3143 for the
five high runs over the measured mile
course and once she raced over the
course at 325 knot clip.
Having loaded so tons of fuel OIL
the Roe put to sea at Z O'Clock yes
terday morning and proceeded out oil
the Capes. The trial did not begin
until the ship was 80 miles OF me
Capes The Roe ran down off Cape
Hatteras and return. finishing the four
hours run about where she started
on the guelling test At the conciu-
sion of the trial she came on TO
this port, arriving about 6 o'clock.
The naval trial board Immediately
proceeded to Old Point and returned
to Washington last night 10 make
its report to the navy department.
Fourth Trial of Week.
Yesterdays trial was the fourth run
the Roe had had in four days. she
ran the Standardization test Wednes-
day and went through the twelve
hours endurance run at sixteen knots
speed Thursday Friday she had
twelve hours endurance run at 20
knots speed. The yard officials, capt
Melvin and the men composing the
crew were thoroughly worn out wnen
the vessel returned to port yester-
day evening and all were thankful
that the tests were ended
While the exact date has not yet
been set, it is understood that the
Roe will be delivered to the navy
apartment next month. She is the
first of her class to be completed.
No Stokers on Ship.
No firemen are needed on the Roe
for the reason that the ship burns
oil for fuel. The oil runs into the
burners from the oil tanks through
pes and the flow is regulated Dy
valves. These valves are operated
by two or three men. While it Is
a very responsible position, the post
of fuel regulators on this ship does
not carry with it the hard work and
the dramatic situat ons that Is at
tached to the job OF a fireman in the
Areroom of a warShip.
There are four boilers in the Roe to
supply the steam to the three turbine
engines of the Parsons type. These
engines drive three screws, one port,
one starboard and one on the center
line of the ship. The steam works on
the turb mes on the same principle
that water works on a water-mill, the
steam striking against hundreds OF
little cups in the engine and turning
the engine The speed Of the engine
depends entirely upon the amount OF
steam to he supplied. When the Roe
first went on trial. the yard officials
were somewhat dubious about scout
ing enough steam to drive the ship