The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-12
NEW RECORD IN
BUILDING SHIPS
Is Established BY Secretary of
the Navy Meyer
PLANS NEW BATTLESHIPS
Before the Money For Their Construc-
ton Is Actually Appropriated.
Carpenter VIII Train For
Consular Service
PLANS NEW BATTLESHIPS
BY SIDNEY EsPEY

Washington, June ia record in get
ting new ships under construction has
been established by Secretary of the
Navy Meyer with the two new battle
ships about to be authorized by Con-
gress. Plans for these two vessels have
been completed and approved even be-
fore the money has been appropriated for
their construction. This is in striking
contrast with the proceedings of former
when often It has taken year or more
to decide upon the plans for ships appro
priated for by Congress.
The new ships. which will outclass any
now In the American navy and rank
among the first of any navy in the
world, will be slightly more than 27,o0o
tons in displacement and will carry 10
14-inch guns. In other particulars the
ships will be built after the Wyoming
type, with her all-big guns and smaller
secondary battery, and with her skeleton
mast and other distinctive features of
the giant battle ships of the day. The
design of the new ships was made up
primarily by the bureau of construction
of the navy department. In their work,
however, the naval constructors took into
consideration all the advanced ideas that
have come from the naval conference at
Newport, while line and STAFF officers
alike Join in discussing matters per-
tanning to the betterment of the navy.
Having completed Its tentative designs,
the bureau of construction sent them to
the general board of the navy, of which
Admiral Dewey is president. The gen.
eral board went over them, made such
changes and suggestions as were thought
expedient and worked in cooperation
with line officers of the feet, whose
Ideas might be of service 1t Is the COM
bined effort of the constructors, the gen.
eral board and sea-going fleet officers
that the Secretary of the Navy has ap-
proved In the two new ships. high
compliment to the naval constructors
was paid by Mr. Meyer when he said
that the original plans had not been
materially changed.
Aside from bringing the plans to early
completion, this new procedure does
away with much of the wrangling in ma
val circles which has accompanied the
construction of battleships and other yes
sells. Formerly the bureau of constr1Ic-
ton and the general board when they
designed the ships completed their work
and only permitted sea- going officers to
see the finished designs when the con-
struction was under way. This brought
about in 1907 flood of criticism against
the constructors by some of the younger
and more progressive line officers, of
whom Commander Sims, now In COM
mand of the Minnesota; Commander Kew
and Commander Frank N. Hill were the
leaders. 1t was also for the same reason
that the undertaking magazines started
a campaign against alleged faults In the
navy. This brought about a Newport
conference, which voted down the crit
icisms. but showed that much might be
gained in the future If the ideas of sea-
going officers were given weight before
the ships were finally designed.
The new vessels are to be the first
ships Of the United States navy to be
armed with 14-inch guns. The Wyoming
will carry IL Pinch rifles. disposed in
pairs in turrets. all on a median line, so
that they can all be fired in one broad
side. The ideal battery of the future
Is considered by naval experts to be u
H-inch guns, disposed In like manner.
In naval design, however, one charac-
terstic can only be increased at the
sacrifice of others. Consequently should
the armament be increased to this ideal
battery 1t would necessitate more ma
chinery for propulsion and consequently
greater weight and probably less speed.
Il is estimated that ship carrying u
H-inch guns would have to be of about
1900 tons displacement
There has been much discussion ove-
the relative value of IL Pinch or 10 IA
inch rifles. The effective range of these
guns Is about the same, that of about
12,000 yards. or six miles, which is long
battle range. But at 5000 yards the IA
inch guns penetrate 12h inches of Krupp
armor, while the 12-inch penetrate only
II inches at the same range. This Is one
of the advantages of the heavier type gun
which is In other respects a more rigid
and effective weapon. At least 1t was
so decided by the ordnance experts, and
acting on their advice Secretary Meyer
decided to adopt this gun.
Fred w Carter, after years of service
as confidential secretary to President
Taft, is getting ready to go to school"