Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-03-16
DREADNCUGHT
PENNSYLVANIA
LEAVES WAYS
Worlds Greatest BattIeship Is
Successfully Launched at
Newport News.
CROWD OF 10000 CHEERS
AS SHE HITS THE WATER
German Cruiser EiteI Joins in
Roar of Welcome from
Vessels.

NEWPORT NEWS. Va March
1.-THE new dreadnought Pennsyl-
vania was successfully launched
here this morning shortly after 10
o'clock. The largest engine of naval
warfare in the world slid down the
ways while a prayer was uttered
that she might be a messenger OF
peace rather than a weapon OF de-
struction.
Christened by Miss Elizabeth KoIb.
OF Germantown, Pa, as Secretary
Daniels gave signal, the monster
hull slid into the James river. and
the swell tossed the German con-
verted cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich.
less than hundred yards away.
Commander Thierichens. OF the sea
raider. sat in full uniform with the
official party on the platform, and
mingled with American naval off,
GERS throughout the ceremonies.
A gray-haired woman approached
the German commander as he stood
under the towering bow OF the Penn
sylvania and grasped his hand She
was Mrs. NJ. F. Thomas, Of Beacon,
N. Y, member Of the Society of
Friends.
Commander" she said, sI belong
to a society which believes that al
persons should love others as much
as themselves Do you in Germany
love US as much as you love your
selves2"
The captain smiled. but did not an
swer. as Mrs. Thomas continued:
"Don't you believe that we will soon
have peace? Isn't it time you men
stopped killing each other?"
Madame" replied the German
but this war had to be. 1t was a
necessary war for the peace OF the
world After this war there viii be
a long peace. But at the end OF the
long peace there will come another
war"
At that juncture Rear-Adniral
Beatty, commandant OF the Norfol.
Navy Yard, heckoned to the German
commander and closed the interview
At exactly 1911 o'clock the German
naval officer JONES' io.eoo Americans
cheering the new American dread
nouglt on her slide into the sea,
al lCI ZplSCORdLl 41AoAtOR AfC4 ~
Pennsylvania, had read a prayer for
the welfare OF the president and
people of the United States. the army
and navy and the peace OF the world
In the launching stand beside the
sponsor. who successfully broke a
bottle OF wine against the Pennsyl-
vania's bow. were Governor Brum-
baugh and staff OF Pennsylvania:
Secretary Daniels and staff. A
luncheon followed at Old Point Com
fort
In the din Of shrie'-ing whistles
from scores Of vessels in the river as
the Pennsylvania floated out into the
stream. the hoarse siren OF the Eitel
Friedrich Joined ner welcome.
In size and gunpower the Penn
sylvania is greater even than the
Queen Elizabeth of the British navy.
which led the recent terrific assault
of the allies on the forts of the Dar-
danelles. While the British monster
carries larger guns. her main bat
terry Is only two-thirds the size OF
that Of the Pennsylvania in number.
and the American battleship is 5000
tons greater in size.
l4-Inch Guns Main Battery.
The main battery of the Pennsyl-
vania will consist OF twelve l4-inch
.45-calibre rifles. set in four turrets
three guns to a turret. the plan Of
big gun arrangement adopted in the
sister ships which preceded her the
Nevada and Oklahoma. Her tonnage
measurement is 81 400, against 27,5o0
for the Nevada and Oklahoma and
the Queen Elizabeth. The latter.
however. carries eight 15-inch rifles.
45 calibre. set two to a turret, while
the Nevada and Oklahoma have ten
14-inch rifles each In two three gun
and two two-gun turrets In all these
ships. includ ng the Pennsylvania. the
turrets are all on the centre line to
concentrate their IRE on either broad
side.
Five battleships Of the British navy
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