Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-05
BATTLE CRUISERS
FOR j. s. TO bE HUGE
viii Exceed in Size and Speed
Greatest Warships of
Class in World.
TOTAL COST MAY EXCEED
THAT OF DREADNAUGHTS
Plans for Contemplated Additions to
Navy Already Prepared Under
Rear Admiral Taylor's Direction.

Secretary Daniels made it plain to-
day that the bodybuilding program
now in course of preparation VIII IN
clude at least two super-dreadnaughts'
to cost s1s,0oo,o0o each.
I'VE have learned nothing from the
European war;" the Secretary said'
"that shakes our faith in these heaVlly
armored ships as the main fighting line
of the navy"
He would not indicate whether or
not more than two Dattleships wouio
be asked for or how many pattle
cruisers his estimates would 1nciude.
The number of ships of each class to
be recommended, he said, had not been
finally decided.
The Secretary will see President Will
son again during the week, and eX-
poets to complete his estimates week
from tomorrow.
Plans in Hands of Board.
While the general characteristics of
the battle cruisers to be recommended
by the Secretary of the Navy have been
considered by the navy geneyal board,
the plans have not left the board
hands officers familiar with Euro
pean ships of that class, however, be-
neve the first United States battle
cruiser will exceed in size and speed
anything now afoat. The Tiger OF
the British navy is the largest battle
cruiser now in commission. she dis
places $4,000 tons and has speed of
thirty knots an hour. 1t is deemed
certain that the United States ships
will go we'll over 10000 tons and equal
thirty-fiye knots in speed.
Whether or not 1T is planned to arm
the ships with the navy sixteen-inch
rifles has not been disclosed. The
European cruisers carry from six to
eight heavy guns, usually twelve-inch
weapons United States dreadnaughts
now are armed with fourteen-inch
rifles. but the navy gun factory mas
produced sixteen-inch weapon OF
which no use has yet been made. If
the battle cruisers equal the newest
dreadnaughts in size. displacing $4,000
tons, il is possible they will carry eight
sixteen-inch rifles each or twelve
fourteen-inch guns, the same main
battery carried on the battleships.
Cost viii Be Heavy.
In cost the battle cruisers probably
will exceed dreadnaughts. To attain
the high speed required they must be
equipped with larger engines. 1t is es-
tfmated that machinery costs so cents
a pound, as against 25 cents a pound
for armor, so there would be an addi-
tional expense instead of a saving in
the fact that the ships will carry no
heavy side armor.
The task of calculating weights to
bring the vessel within the required
tonnage Is am enormous one. Navy
constructors, however, take pride in
vessel designed
the department has shown overweight
for twelve years. The British dread
naught, first OF the all biggun ships
built by any navy, was designed to dis
place 1880 tons. 1t is known author
itatively that it was more than 5000
tons overweight when commissioned:
Recommended But Once.
Battle cruisers have not been recon-
mended by the general board except once.
some years ago. Plans have been con-
sidered for such ships every year, how
ever, and tentative designs prepared.
Many officers now feel that with bids ad-
ve-tised for the forty-fourth battleship
Of the navy, ii is time that swift, heav Willy
armed cruisers were added to the fleet
aside from any lessons drawn from the
European war. The mission of the
navy as It is discussed in Navy War Col
lege problems always has been regarded
as defense Of the United States Lacking
a merchant marine of any size. it has
been deemed unnecessary to provide ex-
pensive high-speed craft at the cost of
tire main line OF the fleets. the dread
naughts. With efforts being made to
fo.ter the merchant marine, however. and
with the Monroe doctrine TO uphold, and
the Panama canal TO defend, these officers
feel that the time has come when the