The Washington times., 1910-08-11
Fastest American Battleship
Outstripped by Lion,
Making 80 Knots.
NEW BOAT CARRIES
THE HEAVIEST GUNS
English Experimental Fighting Ma
chine, With Its High Speed, May
RevOlutiOnize Construction.

If the reports concerning the power
ana speed Of the new British battIeship-
cruiser, Lion. are correct, that war
ship - more powerful than anything
the United States is constructing
Even the Dreadnauehts Of the Arlzan-
sas and Wyoming class, each Of 5000
tons, VIII not be as formidable as the
Lion. which has already been launched
Indeed, il appears That tie Lion Is
tle superior OF any otnef "s-l=t-iP L oN
aHOaI- 40 other nation IS ouliGlns any
thing so powerful Congress al me last
session authorized two -l,uJ0-tOn battle
ships bus bids nave not been sought
One OF the elements In the construc-
ton Of the Lion that = is admitted by
naval officers would make her extreme
ly daneerous in battle Is her speed Of
thirty knots This Is much more than
the fastest Of the American battIeShipS
OF aTmOTed cruisers With a speed Of
thirty knots. the Lion could literally
Tun away from an American baItleShip
tleship, her speed would allow her 20
keep out Of reach OF brOadsidcs.
Lion Fleet InvincibIe-
If the Lion proves a success on full
trial. Il may he assumed that the
British government viii follow by
building other warships Of similar type
a division Of craft or the Lion type
would, indeed, be invincibie, on paper
at least.
Not only is the Lion Of tlirty-knots
speed. despite her $500 tons displace-
ment. but she Is to be equipped with
eight l8-5-inch guns. In number Of guns,
the British battleshiD-cruiser VIII be
weaker than then strongest American
JIeships have JweIve-iuch guns. while
the British Lion IS TO have more POWER
ful ones.
The most powerful American vessels
now building the Arkansas and WyOu-
INK, are TO have twelve tWelve-Inch
guns They are TO have q speed Of
Weuty-aud-Ole-hG1f knots.
The Navy Department has been e.-
perimcntlug with q fOurteeE-Inch gum
ana Tacre IS a possibility that when the
new G1.0lJ-1Cn vessels are constructed
they VIII have guns of that size But
there IS no Indication they viii have
ssnvthinG Ike the speed OF the British
vessel.
Leads Worlds Navies-
Germany has no battleships or ar
mOred cruisers that viii compare in
speed with the Lion Her powerful p
COTTON ba-tIeships which are building
are Of twenty-knot speed
Japan-s best battIeships and cruisers,
toe. are far behind the Lion. as they
try japan IS building powerful twenty
I'VE knot aTmored cruisers however.
which VIII excel anything this country
has In speed, and there are TUmOrs OF
one or more barrleships greater than
anything projected in this country
The new Russian vessels viii be pow
eTfUl. bat these again are Inferior 20
the Lion They are OF $500 tons win
speed Of tWenTy-CEree knots. and VIII
carry twelve tWeIve-inch guns
The Argentine republic Is having two
., 0J0-tOn battleships built in this coun-
try. These VIII be in the very front
rank OF powerful vessels Of the world
In size. they VIII eclipse anything afioat.
They VIII be better equipped with heavy
guns than the LlOns but behind Il in
speed
The serious question before the Amer
lean navy, is 10 WHIST extent Great
Britain is going into the business Of
constructing vessels Of the type Of the
Lion II il is found practicable By the
British to construct vessels as powerful
as that, with. the speed Of @ torpedo
boat destroyer or Of an express train.
them in the opinion Of many the bust
ness Of warship construction VIII be
revolUtiOnized- II is certain that no
feet Of vessels now built or building
would have anything like an even chance
# compelled to encounter a fleet made I'D
Of units Of the Lion type.