The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19

volve in the barbcttcs and are con-
trollcd by electricity
| In the secondary battery there Will
j be twenty-one nvc'Inch rapid-frc
rifles Two of these VIII he located
on the supcrstructure above the main
deck. and the remaining nineteen will
be mounted OH the gun ucck below the
main deck. There will ie nine on each
broadsidc and one at the stern. These
guns are for wardinS off attack by
torpedo boats and submarines. Be-
sides the salutinS guns, there will be
! two field pieces for use by the ma
rincs oc the ship in shore lighting
The vessel also will be equipped with
two submerged torpedo tubes, one
starboard and one port.
High out or Winter.
| The Texas will sit rather high out
OF the water so as to give ample free
board for the guns. both large and
small. There will be nearly thirty
feet frceboard forward. and tho bow
curves out we'll ut the main deck.
This design OF construction Is used
SO That even when the ship is running
fun speed in choppy sea the water
Will not break over the bow and inter
ferc with tn" gunncrs In firing the
rifles In the foreward turrcts.
! In defensive qualities the Texas Will
! be unsurpassed by any pattlcship
ahoat Along the water line. extend
| ine from a point about 100 feet from
| the bow, TO tho stern of the ship, will
be Il belt of armor eight feet wide and
eleven inches thick above the water
| and nine inches thick below the water
along the centre part OF the ship to
| protect the boilers and engines. This
belt tapcrs 10 thickness of six inches
! at the stern
The waterilne belt will extend about
SIX feet below the full Load watcrlinc
so as to afford the ship protection in
case she engaged in fight in a heavy
swell. which would CAUSE her TO roll
| Above the water line belt will be
Two ether belts which will be maxi
mum thickness of eleven inches amid
ships. and which will taper TO n thick
ness OF nine inches at each end. These
belts Will be 500 feet long and VIII
extend from the forward armored bulk
mead at the extreme forward turret. to
tho armored bulkhcad at the extreme
after turrct. This will afford protec-
/ tion for tho nvc-inch rapid-hre rifles
and the smokestacks below the main
dcck as well as to the hospital and
other departments.
Armor Nine Inches Thick.
| INC armor OH the sides and backs of
! the turrcts viii be nine inches thick.
aud that on the front of the turrets
:
front piece Is particularly thick be-
cause IL VIII bc the chief portion OF tho
turret TO be exposed 20 fire in battle,
belhS pointed in the direction with tho
guns Tho turrets Will be covered by
armor five inches thick. The coming
lower VIII have armor twelve inches
'hick' There tho captain OF the ship
sta!s III battle and directs his ship
Ny means Of telephone and telegraph.
one of the distinctive features OF
.he leNas' and n feature that makes
nor unlike the battlesh;ps that have
heretofore been built for the navy will
DC INC arrangement of the armor. The
nun Is so constructed that from an
CUPBOARD View OF the ship she does not
ipPc"r 10 navc any armor. the hull
ptne as smooth as that Of q merchant
vessel on the ships that have gone
neiorc Inc hun was buiit smooth like
'h"se OF merchant ships and tho armor
pun on This left ragged appearance
mheh the ship was completed the
various belts OF armor being plainly
| Visible by reason OF the difference in
sheir thickness md by reason OF tho
ihct mat they do not extend all the
way from stem 10 storm.
Ihoush tho turbine engine is boing
used extensively in foreign ships, and
~ me propelling machinery OF sew
era' hattleships and other craft In
'hs United States navy. tho Texas