New-York tribune., 1911-01-11
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Experts at Work on Plans for
New BattleShipS.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau.l


PRELIMINARY DEsIGNs.-The naval
authorities have begun work on the pre-
liminary designs OF the battleships which
Congress is expected to authorize at this
session, In accordance with the recon-
mendation Of the Secretary of the Navy
and which will be included in the appro-
priaton bill reported TO the House next
week. on Thursday the naval committee
will hear Secretary Meyer, who has an I'M
portant statement to make respecting the
construction of battleships, especially with
reference to the vessel authorized at the
last session TO be built at the Brooklyn
navy yard. He will probably recommend
that this vessel be built under contract as
the department has proposition from the
Newport News Shipbuilding Company to
construct the ship at its plant, where the
sister vessel will be built.
This proposition. II II gets before the
House, will be vigorously opposed by Rep
resentatives Fitzgerald and Calder, of New
York. both Of whom have fortified their
position with figures aiming to show that
the method Of determining the cost OF bat
tleship construction at New York Is de-
fective. With this confusion over the con-
struction of the battleships authorized at
the last session. some of the naval of1cers
apprehend there will be difficulty In getting
Congress TO authorize two more vessels.
At the same time, the experts are going
ahead with the plans in anticipation OF au-
thority. The designs. so far as they have
been prepared. cali for ships similar to the
New York and the Texas, authorized at the
last session. They will probably have
about the same arrnament-ten 14-inch
guns. One proposition TO install eight 16-
inch guns in four turrets, and another
proposition TO have eight such guns in as
many turrets, have not met with favor at
the Navy Department Indeed, it is posi-
BILE that the number Of 14-inch guns VIII
be reduced from ten to eight in order that
there may be heavier armor on the sides.
and especially on the submerged portion Of
the ship TO give greater protection against
torpedo attacks
The naval strategists have been giving
considerable attention to the advance made
in that form of attack, against which 1t IS
difficult fully TO protect except by an ap
preciable increase in the thickness Of the
armor. In other respects the next ships
built will be practical reproductions of the
new Texas and the new New York, al
though II is still an open question whether
there will be reciprocating engines or tur-
bnes The fight over the type Of machin-
cry has reached an acute stage in the gen.
eral board and there is a prospect that it
will be carried into Congress on the report
made by the advocates Of turbines that
the Navy Department Is taking a step
backward in providing for reciprocatlns
engines in the battleships authorized at
the last session.
The principal new feature, therefore, will
be the added protection. possibly at the ex-
pense of power Of armament, on the theory
that the battery may be reduced with in
creased protection, so that the ship may
get into closer range and accomplish much
more than at a longer distance of fire.
There IS even the proposition that the
added protection be given and the battery
of ten 14-inch guns lie retained. with the
saving in weight accomplished by a reduc-
ton in the coal carrying capacity and in
the machinery department, which would
mean a loss OF radius Of action and OF
speed Sacrifices Of this kind. however,
are not greatly favored in the discussions
which are taking place IN the department
ORDERS ISSUED. The following orders
have been issued:
ARMY.
Captain SAMUEL 3. M'lNTYRE 10Th Infantry,
recruiting officer, on relief from temporary
duty at Dallas TO proper station.
Captain JOHN W. CRAIG, 18th Cavalry, de-
tailed inspector Of Philippine Constabulary.
to take effect April 10.
Captain JOHN NJ, CAMPBELL, 2Sth Infantry.
from Walter Reed General Hospital, District
OF Columbia; 20 proper station.
First Lieutenant ALBERT l. MILLER. medical
corps. from Fort Meade. February l.
20 home. where, expiration OF one months
leave OF absence. he Will stand relieved from
active duty IN medical reserve corps.
Leave Of absence; Captain CONRAD II. LAMA
quartermaster, four months, on relief from
duty in Philippines.
NAVY.
Midshipman T. 5 WILKINSON. Jr.. detached
the South Carolina; TO Naval Medical School
Hospital. Washington.
MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPs.-Th fol-
lowing movements of vessels have been re-
ported TO the Navy Department:
ARRIVED.
Jan. S-The Cesar. at Sewall Point; the Mar
ietta, at Puerto Cortez; the Des M0nes at
-. Vincent cape Verde.
SAILED.
Jan. 9--The Des Mones, from St Vincent for
Boston.