New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-27
BIC WARSH|P LAUNCHED
Rivadavia, Built Here for Ar
gentina, Largest Yet.
TO DEVELOP HIGH SPEED
Heavier Than the Wyoming, Our
Most Modern Dreadnought,
and England's Lion.

Quincy. Mass. Aug. 2s.-Amid cheers
from a thousand throats in which Ensiish
and Spanish phrases Joined In one ex-
preston OF pride and Joy. the world
greatest battleship was successfully
launched to-day. AS the vessel slid off the
wsvs Sonora de Naon, wife of the Argen-
tine Minister TO the United States. broke a
ribbon-encased bottle of champagne over
the bow of the monster sea fighter ana
named her the Rivadavia.
II was Just l:5s O'Clock when the massive
hull started slowly down the incline. and
few moments later II was floating grace
fully IN the. waters Of the Fore River. The
ceremonies attending the actual launching
Of The battlsship were simple In naming
tho hattleship Sonora de Naon acted as the
special representative Of Sonora Rosa
saenz wife of the President OF the Argen-
tine Republic. Gathered about her were
representatives OF Argentina as well as
representative men of the United States
Minister de Naon was the especial envoy
of Argentina
pear Admiral H 7. Cone, chief Of the
Bureau of Steam Engineering, and Rear
Animal r. NJ. Watt. chief Of the Bureau
OF Construction and Repair. were present,
az were Charles NJ. Schwab. Henry .
Grove. president OF the Cramp Ship Build
ing Company: Colonel F. d. Abbott
United States Army; Charles G. GURUS or
New York: +. B. Crowninshield, Repre-
sentative James VI. Curley, OF Massa-
chusetts: J. r Gordon. of New York, and
members Of the Massachusetts Leglslat-
ure.
Following the launching the guests gath
cred i'm the new boiler house. recently con-
structed. for luncheon. Ex-Rear Admiral
Francis T. Bowles. president of the Fore
River Shipbuilding Company, presided
and after toasting the newly launched
hattleship and her sponsor. introduced as
the speakers DIR. Romulo S. de Naoil'
Argentine Minister TO the United States;
Admiral o. Betbeder, formerly the Min
lister Of Marine of Argentina, and under
whose administration the project OF the
construction OF the Rivadavia was in
it!ated: Captain Diogenes Aguirre. Rep
resentative James NJ. Curley and Mayor
William T. Shea, of Quincy. The speech
making marked the close of the days
ceremonies.
The launching had been set for 1890
o'clock The delay of an hour and a half
was due TO the fact that much more and
heavier blocking had been built around
the massive hull than around any vessel
previously launched at the Fore River
yards. and the builders failed TO realize
how long it would take TO remove it.
Eleven thousand tons of American steel
are moulded into the hull of the battleship.
which, when completed. will have dis
Placement of $500 tons. Thus the Riva-
6avia will be approximately 100 tons
heavier than the Arkansas and the Wyom-
ing Americas greatest projected sea
fighters. and the Lion, England's new king
OF the sea. The keel was laid with much
ceremony on May %. 1910, the anniversary
Of the independence Of Argentina, and she
IS now s. per cent completed. The contract
calls FOR her completion before February .,
1872
Externally the Rivadavia is much like
the latest American types. Her hull is 5S9
feet long and she has normal draft Of
q feet. 6 inches. The Arkansas and
Wyoming type is 562 feet in length and
Las a draft of Is feet. inches
Three turbines of 1850 horsepower will
furnish the motive power, which is ex-
pected to drive the battleship at speed
Of 22is knots Her coal capacity is 1000
tons. or 100 tons more than the American
Lattleship can load. The Rivadavia will be
equipped with twelve Pinch, 5O-calibre,
breech-loading Tiles. with a secondary bat
terry Of twelve 6-inch and twelve 4-inch
rapid-fre guns She will also nave two
2l-inch submerged torpedo tubes. Amer
lean ships of the type nearest to the Riva-
davia carry eighty-fve officers and 1000
men.
Minister De Naon read the following tele-
gram which he had received from Presi-
dent Taft:
congratulate YOU on the successful
launching in an American shipyard of the
largest battleship in the world, and sin
Cerelv hope your country will find her use
ful only for the peace she insures and
never in hostile engagements. l heartily
regret | am unable TO he present at the
interesting ceremony.
After the exercises DIR. De Naon replied
10 President Taft's telegram of congratula-
ton. thanking him on behalf Of his country
for the expression Of friendship and con-
gratulatiOnS.