The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-26
SUPERIOR SPEED
NOT NECESSARY
Uncle Sam Arrives at New
Conclusion Concerning His
Dreadnaughts
ARKANSAS EQUAL
TO PENNSYLVANIA
Although Not AS Fast AS New
Battleship Is to Be, She
Is Considered Quite
AS Effective

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Uncie
Sam has at last come to the conclu-
sion that superior speed for dread
naughts 10 not a requisite in increas-
ing the efficiency of our battleships
or OF the effectiveness of the big war
vessels In actual war conditions.
According to the naval general board,
the main advantage of speed Is the
ability TO get out of range of an
enemys guns, and the next advan-
tage of speed Is the ability to force
action or to overtake enemy rum
ming away.
The United States congress, how
ever, Is of a different opinion. for 1t
has recently authorized tho navy de-
partment to let contracts for the big
gest battleship afioat anywhere in
the world 1t Is the dreadnaught
Pennsylvania. and when completed
will have cost the taxpayers Of the
United States 100000. Secretary
OF the Navy Meyer has already adj
vertiscd for bids, and in February. 1t
is expected that the name or names
Of the successful shipbuilding COM
panies who will get the contract to
build the steel monster will be an
noEnced.
Navy Not Elated.
While the navy Is not adverse to
having under it's control q vessel OF
the Pennsylvania's size, it does not
fael elated that congress authorized
the building of the vessel, for IL
Knocked the departments recommen-
siattons of two batleships Il year into
a cooked hat. A consistent policy OF
building two dreadnaughts each year
for period of ten years, representing
an expenditure for latest design yes
sells of approximately s14.o0o,ooo
year, was urged by the department.
Congress, however. acting upon the
fictitious resolution OF Ben Tfllman,
OF South Carolina, to build q terror
of the seas'' upset the well-laid plans
of the department. II was put
through congress a sa compromise III
order TO feEgsH or rather economize
in appropriating for the upkeep OF
the nevy.
While the Pennsylvania is designed
to be superior "a everything owned
by other naval powers IN speed arrna-
ment etc. the general board of the
navy announces that speed is not the
great requisite in battleships. For
that reason the Arkansas, now the
largest battleship afloat in the United
States navy and representative type
of foreign vessels of her class. viii
be equal in effectiveness to the Penn
syfvania-
Battle Range Is Greater.
1t is shown by the board S statistics
that fifteen years ago the range of
hattie occurred at 1000 yards IT
was necessary then 10 construct yes
sells of superior speed, for If the enc
my was able to show a clean pair Of
heels, the effectiveness OF the guns
Of the opponent was nullined. Now,
however. battles are fought at range
of 10000 yards and over, or dis
lance of between six and seven miles
If the Pennsylvania can show "a
speed OF twenty-three knots an honr,
which lis about three knots an hour
more than the best first-class battle
ship can develop. it is inconceivabie
tothe general board AZ to, what be1A-
TT could be attained by having the
larger vessel superior in the matter
of speed except from a sentimental
standpoint.
IT is shown that the large vessels
can sustain a maximum speed only
for about ten hours owing TO tho
great vibration and the enormou
strain on the furnace crew. Besides.
II in pointed out that the effectiveness
of the larger or speedier vessel Is re-
duced The penalty to be paid for
high speed ia the additional weight
of the hull necessary to provide a
vessel OF the length and form to en-
able 1t TO he driven at the highest
speed and the diinlHutioH OF the
arrnor thickness or the restriction or
the urnpartiop Of the AREA Of the ship
protected by arrnor resulting from the
general length to be protected.
II is presumed. therefore, that the
navy department in producing the
best features OF battleship construc-
ton in the Pennsylvania Will not
worry whether or not the ship makes
better averages in its speed tests than
the Arkansas made on her speed trial,
but will concentrate it's efforts in
making the ship able TO Withstand
the heaviest of gun firing and pro-
duce a larger range for its own guns.
1t will be used, no doubt. as the flag
ship OF the North American squadron,
and in time of battle will be ex-
pected to bear the brunt of the en-
gagements.