The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-02-28
$4,000 Tons, With BrOadside
Batteries
OF FOURTEEN-INCH GUNS
Secretary Meyer Tells House Committee
His Plans for Making the United
States the First Sea
Power.

Washington, Feb 2s.--lf present plans
60 through, Congress at its next session
win authorize the construction Of the
greatest battleshIp the world has ever
seen, a monster Of not less than $1,000
tons displacement equipped with broad
side batteries Of l4-ineh guns Of the new
type
At an executive session Of the House
naval committee Saturday, with even
the official stenographer barred, Secretary
OF the Navy Meyer discussed freely and
frankly his plans for making the United
States the first sea power Of the world.
Were it not for the fact that the navy
department "a still conducting its expert.
ments with the new type Of l4-ineh gun
the secretary would have asked that the
two battleships that viii probably D.
authorized By the committee this year be
made 5000 Or even 30Oo0-tou vessels,
instead Of 27000, which win be the
figure. But il only remains for the new
gun to be demonstrated success under
all conditions which Is thought TO BE-
practically assured, for the navy depart
meut To begin preparing TIE plans for the
most powerful battleshp d the world.
The House committee Oh naval affairs
IS making ready for this big vessel and
Others Of its type. The naval appro-
priation bin soon to be reported to the
House win contain items agmegating
several millions for the enlargement Of
the three great dry docks now under
construction, so that they win be capable
Of holding vessels much larger than any
that are thought Of at this time.
eThe United States said a member
Of The committee, who for very obvious
reasons does not care 70 have his name
used, will no longer follow in the foot
steps Of foreign powers ia construction
matters Ia a couple Of years we viii
be leading the world. The tonnage 81
The great battleship now under eonsidera
ton win depend 81 course on the IN.
creasing tonnage due to the terriieally
heavy batteries Of the new type o. l4
inch gun. but win be not less than $4,000
tons and possibly more 0ur naval con-
struetors not 50 many years ago declared
chat ii The 10000. ton ship battlesbip
building had reached IFS limit Now
with 27000-ton ships about to be aa-
thorized BY Congress and s2000.ton
ship in prospect, it d difficult to say
what The limit win be"
II Il estimated that vessel Of the
size and type suggested viii
cost not less than slso0ooOo
At the meeting Of the naval committee
Yesterday although no vote was taken.
It was tentatively agreed 70 recommend
Secretary Meyers proposition 81 naval
increase al follows
Two 27,000-ton battleships. which win
be equipped with either ten l4-inch or
twelve l2ineh guns; one repair ship, two
soliiers and five submarines,
The submarines are Cor The protection
81 the Pacific coast. The Pacific coast
Congress delegation appeared before the
committee some weeks ago to make a
plea for submarines and made strong Il
impression on the committee. This, con
Piled with recommendation Of Secretary
Meyer, has resulted ia the committee
not only making provision for five sub
marines in the naval bin Of this year, but
practically reaching an agreement on a /
tentative submarine increase plan, by
which the Pacific coast Is To Get add
.ional submarines each year, beginning
with possibly ten IN the next bin, until
It is considered that tie entire Pacific
soast is adequately protected against
possible invasion.
The naval appropriation bill this year
win carry s5,0000o0 81 sl0,01oo00 less
shan tie measure Of last year. ia which /
there were some abnormal expenditures
provided for, and which aggregated more
than sl88,OO0,000-