New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
FOR 3O,OOO-T0N SHIP
ITS ADVOCATES BUSY.
Congress May Vote One Bat.
tlcship zcith I4-Inch Guns. !,
rFrorn The Tribune Buresu. !

Washington. Feb. f3.-An importan. ,,.
interesting discussion regarding the siz. .,
future battlsships is now imminent. ana
the advocates of the 3o0oo-ton ship NTH
battery Of 1-inch guns are ALREADY aet.v.
in their efforts to secure that type Dur,n-
the animated discussion of the Meyer MIA,
of navy reorganization. as II has be-,
termed. little attention has been pa,d :.
the building programme and IL has b>.,
generally assumed that Congress roul,
respond TO the recommendation ~ e..
President and authorize the construction ..
two more ships Of the o0oe-tou class Tsa,
programme cannot be carried OFT wfthon,
a struggle. however. and the prospect Tia.
the opponents of two ships may win. "a
sether with successful tests OF the iIb,-s
gun at Indian Head, has raised tbs on...
ton of authorizing single ship u n.
larger type and carrying main hs,.rv
Of the larger guns.
The Secretary Of the Navy had +,
conference with the President rscsuyrv :.
which the building programme was s,,-
c,.ssed. and it wa. decided that Mr.. N.vs-
should urge the authorization OF two SM
ton ships before the House COMMITTEES .,
Naval Affairs next week That comTntss.
BY March 10, so that the question mus. :.
disposed Of so far as the House ia con.
cerned, before long. Senator Hale is IN
derstood to be earnestly opposed 70 fro
ships. and his views are shared By con-
siderable number of representatives, vheth
er by sufficient number 10 influence tha
action of the House committee has NOT 70.
been ascertained. II it becomes obviou,
session serious considera ton win un7uesL
tionabIy be given to the advisabiIitv q,
making that the 3o,oos-ton type
Involved In this problem is. Of ec1i-..
the question of docking facilities. but tbs
present policy of enlargins docks under
construction of building big dock az Nor
folk and of providing for two floating
docks anticipates an increase in bs.tIeship
displacement. The conservative rravqI view
realizes that the 2s.eo0-ton type Is not ths
maximum by any means and that with
the advent of the 14-ineh gun there must
be larger vessel to carry the new arnis-
ment i'm order to get the greatest benefit
from the ordnance. The cS.0n-ton battle
ship will not be able to carry more than
ten 14-incfl guns and some OF the experts
believe that when the calculations are COM
commodate more than eight guns Of thar
calibre allowing for turrets which shall
contain only two guns each The chief
of ordnance. Rear Admiral Mason has
submitted to Secretary Meyer his report os
the performance Of the H-rnCh gun, and il
rests with the naval authorities whether
that rife shall take the place of the l2-incl
gun.
IL is a question. also. Of weights and what
NAV be sacrificed on board the battleship
TO furnish eight or ten l4-inch guns The
full advantage OF having the new gun vii
ne derived only from having twelve. rihes Of
that calibre. and this would compel an
increase of displacement TO az least &fS
tons. a step toward the Gen-ton tyrs
which. as already stated. is regarded as
the inevitable result.
In the hearing of Secretary Meyer De-
fore the House Naval COMMITTEES 10 IS eS-
pected that information as TO the new
14-inch gun. as we'll as the development or
motive power represented by the turolns
reduction gear and the continuation Of
electric power VIII he Furnished fnF ths
guidance Of those who must -ptorids fo-
the increase OF the navy