Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-16
INSTALL MANY COMFORTS
ON SUPERINTENDENT
Reception Room for Women Visitors
of Enlisted Men Is Novelty
OF Novelties.
LAUNDRIEs FOR ALL ON BOARD
Wireless System Will BE Far Superior
to Any Now in Use-The Califor-
mia. Which Will BE Ready in 1918,
Already Popular.
Especial to The Times. Dispatch. ]

Especial to The Times. Dispatch.l
NEW YORK, October IA spacious
reception room for women visitors of
enlisted men is the novelty of novel
ties on the new super Dreadnought
California. that some time in 1918 will
be flagship of our nrst-linc battle fleet.
The reception room will be used as
library by tho enlisted men when
tho California is at sea. Newspapers
and magazines will he available for
every Jacky on board. and the COM
forts now enjoyed only by command
officers in wardrooms on our battle
ships will DC for all Naval men arc
already talking of the popularity of
the California. both in the service and
throughout the entire land Naval
Constructor j. T.. Bailey, who will
watch the growth of the monster at
the Brooklyn Navy-Iard, is well
pleased with tho start. He intends to
work very hard TO bring about the
launching somewhere about Inaugural
ton time in 1914
Other novelties OF the new ship were
described to-day.
In the first place, the California is
10 be guarded against submarine at
tacka By newly improved sounding
bells and submarine signals. Her sub
merged torpedo tubes will be able to
launch torpcdoes at any underwater
enemy the moment such vessel is with
in her vicinity. Facts about the sub
marine detcctor are secret in our
navy. and arc now only in the cx-
perimental stage. When the Cali
fornia liz commissioned she will be the
fret WarRhiD have them
IT'S WIRELESS SYSTEM BETTER
THAN ANY IN USE
Other features will include "A wire
less system far superior 10 any now in
use. I, is hoped that wireless tclc-
phones can also be utilized. Regard
ing these. however it IS said there is
still much doubt. only those who have
been on cruises know tho difficulties
Of hearing on battlcship. with its
pounding machinery. etc. The Cali
fornia will he an oil burner. She will
not use one pound OF coal. and this in
itself gives more room for the crew
and for the ammunition magazines.
Sufficient oil can be stored in tho tanks
to generate electric power for a trip
all the way from New York to Manila.
Another novelty on the California
".li be laundries for both officers and
enlisted men. features tina, prompt ed
the following remarks By a naval Of
hcer:
Il mention laundrics. and this means
the passing OF the last remaining fea-
,ure OF the old sailor aboard our ships.
The California Will be the frs. war
ship on which the enlisted men will
not he seen washing clothing. We
have 4 laundry for the officers on ships
now in commission. but none for the
men. Warships are vast machine
shops, and this disappearance OF the
smiling Jacky. sitting on deck wash
ing his clothing. is one more step away
from tho historic past"
The main battery Of the California
viii consist OF twelve fourtcen-inch
guns. our naval experts are convinced
that this type IL superior TO the fifteen
inch guns In some foreign uavics. The
barrels OF our guns are longer. and the
actual force delivered by the projectilc
greater.