Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-31
WORLDS BEST
SCI A FIGHTER
Was LAUNCHED
The Super : Dreadnought
New York Placed in Wat
er at Navy Yard Before
10000 Spectators.
PRESIDENT TAFT
AT CEREMONIES

Christened the Great
Craft, Had Difficulty in
Breaking Bottle Of Wine.
New York, Oct. SO.--The super
dreadnaught New York, greatest OF the
worlds seaf1ghters. was launched to
day at the New York navy yard
Brooklyn, In the presence of 10000
persons, including President Taft and
the secretary of the navy. Miss
Elisha Calder, daughter OF Representa-.
tive William M. Calder Of Brooklyn
christened the ship.
In Miss Calder's great confusion
she failed to break the champagne
bottle on the vessels bow. She had
practiced for several days but for
some reason or other failed today. She
struck the vessel with the bottle three
times but not with sufficient force to
break the bottle. AS the vessel was
sliding down the ways, however, q
man grasped the rope to which was
attached the bottle and swung with
such force that the bottle cleared the
New York's Prov and burst with a
great pop on the port side.
Miss Calder was assisted by little
Miss Katherine Fitzgerald, daughter
OF Representative James Fitzgerald "a
flower girl. The day was ideal for
the Aunching and the great ship took
the water Of the channel without mis-.
hap. l731
President Taft sat with Secretary
Meyer, Cox. Dix, Rear Admiral Oster.
hous, j. p. Morgan and others on a
platform. There were no speeches
hut 9 marine band quickened the
pulses of the assembled thousands.
After the launching was over Presi-
dent Taft attended luncheon at the
naval Y. M. C. A.
The New York is government built
and has been under construction since
September II, 1911. She slid from the
ways about forty per cent completed.
It is estimated that another year and
a half will be required before she is
ready for her trials and can take her
place with the Texas. now under con-
structfon at Newport News, at the
head OF the American navy.
From the time the New York's keel
was laid until the great hull was water
borne a trifle more than thirteen
elapsed. This demonstrates.
according to the navy authorities,
that the government at it's own ship
yards is capable Of placing dread
naught in commission as rapidly as
any other nation. Had the demand for
the vessel been imperative, It is said
at the Brooklyn navy yard, this time
might have been reduced month,
probably two months.
ExceIs the Arkansas.
With all stores and ammunition
aboard the New York will have total
Of .28,367 tons. which is
about 1000 tons more than the dread
nought Arkansas, the pride Of the
Atlantic fleet at it's recent mobiliza-
tion In the Hudson river. Her length
is 573 feet, and her breadth 95.25 feet.
This will permit her passage through
the Panama canal. She will be
equipped with two vertical triple ex-
pansfon engines and with fourteen
boilers, developing 28,100 horse power.
With this power 1t Is estimated the
great ship will make 21 knots on her
speed trials. Both the dreadnoughts
Utah and North Dakota exceeded this,
making 21O4 and 21.01 knots respect
lively.
The estimated cost of the New York
at completion is $1O,O00,00 The cost
Of the hull and machinery alone was
100000. Her armament will consist
Of ten 14-inch guns. the largest ever
placed on battleship in the world.
The Texas also is being armed with
14-inch guns, and the Oklahoma and
the Nevada, the latest dreadnoughts
will carry guns Of equal size.
The minor armament of the New York
will be made up OF twenty-one 5-inch
rapid fire guns; four 3-pounders for
saluting, and four 21-inch submerged
torpedo tubes In addition, there will
be four 3-inch field rifles. Sixty-three
officers and 1,O09 men will mann her.
The vessels armor protection consists
Of 12-inch plate to her wa er line belt.
and above the belt and extending to
the main deck 9-inch' plate. Extend
Ing from the tunnels to the turrets, 12-
inch plate will be used. On the gun
houses 12inch armor will protect the
most exposed places; and S-inch will
shield other parts.
The New York was authorized by
act of congress on June "a. 1910. Con-
Calder and Congressman
led in the fight to have the
vessel built by the government at the
navy yard in preference to
having the contract let to private
ship yard