Arizona republican., 1915-06-20
To Officers Launching Car rirS Wave of Proud Ar ricipation of Time WhcL
 Shc'll Head Fleet Guard
 in@ American Sea Coasts
IS NOW LARGEST
 BATTLESHIb AfLOAT
No Other Battleship Has Been Built O. is Under Construction Thai Vii! Even Approach Arizona in Displacement

"Battleship 39-the Arizona-5S per i cent completed" was the official an nouncement made in Washington sev- eral days ago.
 To tnc average American the figures mean little or nothing, but to the naval officers and men in the New York Navy Yard. where Uncle Sam's new big superdreadnaught is being con- structed. the announcement carried joy and satisfaction. It means that Amer ican naval officers are breaking rec ords in battleship construction
 So consistently has work on the big fighting ship progressed since her keel was laid March 16. 1914. that her con- struction is several months ahead of their schedule. Her launching came long before she was due To take the water
 To naval officers in general the launching carries a wave Of proud an ticiration-anticipat of the time when the Arizona. acknowledged the queen of fighting craft. will show her colors and take her place in the iron band being forged along Americas sea coasts
 With the completion of the Arizona America will have division of ultra modern supcrdreadnaughts carrying heavy armor and big fourteen-inch guns asserted by many experts to be the masters of any firing pieces afloat. the fifteen-inch cannon of the New British battleship queen Elizabeth and her sister ships not excepted.
 The Largest Ever Built
 The Arizona is the largest battleship built or under construction. here or abroad. unless Great Britain or Ger many has secretly laid down sea mon ~ters beyond present conception since the war started.
 The Arizona will displace 31.500 tons light and more than 32.000 tons when fully equipped and manned. The near est approach to such a tonna ge is made hy Jour new dreadnaughts being turn ed out for Germany and the four un- der construction for Japan. These ships Vill displace about 3000O tons, far short Of the Arizona and her sis ter ship, the Pennsylvania recently launched. From the time she first cuts the water the Arizona will reign su- premc until the first of three new American battleships now not even laid down. is launched The Califor- mia the Idaho and the Mississippi each will displacc more than 32.0OO tons light
 American naval experts are confi- dent the Arizona. despite the failings along certain lines when compared to the "brag boats" of other navies. will prove match for anything afloat
 Already most of her powerful turrets have been set in place. In bright yer million of lead paint. they form a curi- ous contrast to the battleship gray al- ready spread over the ship to the main deck level.
 Rear Admiral Usher in Charge
 As the head of the local navy yard, Rear Admiral Nathaniel R. Usher is in charge of her construction. Under him, however, Naval Constructor Robert Strocker and Naval Constructor John F. Bailey are responsible for the put ting together of the vast hull of the ship. and Lieutenant Commander Staff ford +. R. Boyle of the powerful en- zines and their auXilaries.
 The huge engines, of the Parson tur- ! bine type. are being constructed in the machine shops of the yard of which Commander Richardson is in charge. Six massive turbines with their thous- ands of delicate blades are being rush ed to completion. Never has a gov Continued on Page Two)