Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-29
TO EXECUTE ITALIAN IN MON.
TREAI..

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 25.-
Surpassed by none and equaled only
by her own sister ship, which Is not
yet completed, Americans latest and
greatest warship, the battIeship Wy
oming, was launched today Mt the
yards Of the Cramp Ship and Engine
Building company at Kensington.
There was no untoward incident to
mar the ceremonies, which We're wit
messed by distinguished gathering
of naval folk and official representa-
tives OF the state of Wyoming, in hon.
or of which commonwealth the power
full sea fighter was named.
For the first time in the many years
that the Cramps have been building
the big fighting machines for the
United States navy the general pub
liz was barred from attending the
launching. No one was permitted to
enter the yards without card OF ad-
mission. The enforcement of the new
rule was due, according to the cx-
PLANTATION Of the company officials, to
extraordinary conditions arising from
the great size of the Wyoming. So
huge is the mammoth hulk that it
completely filled the great shed built
over the cradle and rendered it i'm
possible to build the customary stands
about the PROV for the accommodation
OF the spectators. Provision was made
only for the christening party and
few distinguished guests.
The christening party, headed by
Miss Dorothy Eunioe Knight, daugh-
ter of former chief justice of the
for the big battleship, took up their
positions near the nose Of the big
ship. A few minutes later there was
a rending sound and snap, the weaken
ed underbeams gave way and ae the
Wyoming moved down the ways Miss
Knight hurled the bottle Of sparkling
wine at the prov and exclaimed in q
clear voice: ~ christen thee Wyom-
ing"
The gigantic battleship slide down
the tallow-greased ways with the
lightness of frail lifeboat. As she
righted herself far out in the stream
and was taken in charge by several
tugs the great crowd of spectators
gave vent to its enthusiasm. To the
cheers OF the onlookers was added the
deafening noise of hundreds of whis-
ties from the factories and shops
along shore and the many river craft.
The battleship Wyoming is declared
to have no equal afloat as first-class
fighting machine. She is of $4,000
tons displacement, or 1920 tons great
er than the British battleship Conquer
or launched few weeks ago.
The displacement Of the Wyoming Is
6,O00 tons greater than that of the
Delaware, which has been in COM
mission less than year, and nearly
$4,000 tons greater than that of the
Oregon, which scarcely more than =
decade ago was known as the Bulldog
Of the Navy"
The armament of the Wyoming will
consist of twelve 12-inch guns, and
twenty-five 5-inch guns and broad
sides OF twelve 12-inch and eleven o.
inch guns. The twelve 12-inch guns
will be mounted in six turrets on the
center line of the ship, two forward.
two aft and two midships. Each tur-
ret is to be protected by armor twelve
inches and eight inches thick, and sup
piled with ammunition by electrical
hoists from the magazine and she'll
rooms below The entire handling Of
the guns will be done by electric mo-
tors.
For defense against torpedo attacks
there will be provided battery OF
twenty-one 5-inch rapid-fre guns, pro-
teced by armor of medium thickness.
Close subdivision and strong bulk
heads will form additional protection
against the damage likely to result
from mine or torpedo explosions.
The principal dimensions of the big
battleship are as follows: Length on
load water line, 554 feet; length over
all, 662 feet; beam over armor. SO feet
Y 5-S inches; trial draft, 28 feet, 6
inches; trial displacement, 10000 tons;
trial speed, 20, 1-2 knots an hour.
The main belt armor will be about
eight feet wide and will have an av-
erage thickness of ten inches. Above
this Is to be another belt of ten inches
average thickness, and still higher
amidships, is the easement armor pro-
tecting the secondary battery and fun
mel bases At the ends of the main
belt are transverse armor bulkheads.
Each barbetter is OF armor varying
from four inches to eleven in thick
ness, which protects the entire ammu-
nition-habdling machinery for the 12-
inch guns in the turret above. A
strong protective deck extends all fore
and aft.
The Wyoming will be fitted for u
flagship and her complement as such
ILL l.. or xfG..~. n-l Aqn vs,aa