Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-01-26
5k:..:.:::.::.:,l


named the Texas, and, once
Afoat, she will be the most formidable
lighting ship In the world. This, how
ever, with the qualifying statement
that her sister, and twin-newly called
the New York--is In like early stage
of construction at the navy yard in
Brooklyn. They will make marvel
our pair, as may be judged from the
facts respecting them presently to be
set forth. For one point. they will car
ry bigger guns than any now ahoat.
Three months before the outbreak
Of the war with Spain, our navy pos
sessed lin addition to other more
formidable craft, such as the Oregon
and Indiana) two seeond-class~ battle
ships. One of these, the Maine, is now
being dug out of the muddy bottom
of the harbor of Havana. The other
was the old Texas, which today is
junk-having been utilized recently
as target to test the effect OF up-to-
date projectiles.
Now we are to have new Texas
to take her place. But what diner
ence between the two. 1t Is no exag-
geration to say that II Spain had pos
sessed one ship like that now building
here she might easily have defeated
us in the memorable struggle OF 1898.
Such vessel, speedy enough to choose
her own distance, could have knocked
our best naval fighting machines lit
orally to pieces. while keeping beyond
the effective range Of their guns.
The Texas Cike the New York; will
carry ten Of those wonderful fourteen
inch guns which are now to be placed
for the first time on board of fighting
craft. There is nothing like them In
the world today, foregn nations having
contented themselves thus far with
twelve-inch rifles. The projectiles they
throw are Az feet long. weighing
1,400 pounds. and are hollow. the va
cant space being packed with 40
pounds Of high explosive which is
the most powerful In existence, its
composition being government
secret.
Now, the efficiency of either one OF
these vessels as a fighting machine
may be judged when it Is explained
that the half-score gigantic breech-
loading rifles will occupy five turrets,
the latter being arranged in straight
line from bow to stem, 80 that in bat
tie all of the guns can be fired as a
broadside either to port or starboard.
Two of the turrets will be somewhat
higher than the other three. in order
that their guns may fire over the 9TH
ers in cases where shooting has to be
done directly ahead or directly astern.
The two ships represent an entirely
new type of "super-dreadnought-" One
of their most remarkable features will
be secondary battery of 81 five-inch
breechloading rifles which. though In
themselves very formidable weapons,
are not meant for use in battle at all.
Under such circumstances. indeed.
they would not even be fired-their
business being merely defense against
torpedo boats. At night they would
be utilized for this purpose in connec-
ton with powerful searchlights.
What the Texas (like her twi sis
teri will depend upon is the delivery
of smashing blows at long ranges with
her great fourteen-inch guns. Under
present conditions the normal lighting
distance, where battleships are en-
gagged. would be from 5000 to 10000
yards-that is to say. from three to
six miles. roughly speaking. They
would start firing at about six miles.
Ten years ago the fighting distance
was only 1000 yards; but it Is being
steadily pushed out with the improve
ment OF guns and other elements Of
fighting power.
With all ten OF It's guns concentrate
ed upon the target (the range being
once correctly obtained.) the Texas.