Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-03
LAY KEEL FOR new
U. s. BATTLESHIP
Keel Of Super Warship Gall
fornis viii Be Laid at Mare
Island This Month.
TO BE l'LEcTRIoAL MARVEL

r
ing an electrical marvel, the new su
per-dreadnaught California, which il
to have its keel laid probably som,
time this month at Mare island nav,
yard. will be as near impregnable &c
mine and torpedo attacks as it is pos
sible to make modern warship. The
arnnor and other protection againsI
these weapons have been worked ou,
in the greatest detail and cmbody
many novel features that are the re.
suit of careful study Of naval engage.
ments in the present European war
When the contract for battleshir
No. a. was awarded to the Mare isl,
and navy yard the name California
already had been given to battleship
No. 40, under construction at the New
York navy yard. Inasmuch as No
"a was to be the largest warship to
be built on the Pacific coast, the Navy
department directed that the name oil
the one to be built at Mare island
should be changed to California and
The one building in New York should
be named the New Mexico.
For some time before the plans for
the California were made the Navy
department experts satisfied them
selves by exhaustive tests that YES
sells OF the proposed construction
could not be sunk either by striking
mine or torpedo attack. II is I'M
derstood that the construction OF the
bnlkheads by an improved method
Is mainly relied upon to make the
vessel impervious to torpedo and
mine destruction. They are to be
steel, but will not be rigid, as Is the
case in other ships. Also resistance
has been increased rs to so per cent.
Main Engines Electric.
The main engines will be electric,
the electric generators being driven
BY steam turbines Of $4,000 horsepow-
er, the steam supplies by oil burning
water tube boilers. Not only the
type Of machinery installation, but its
arrangement is said to be entirely
different from any ever adopted for
any previous warship.
Ii will be. fitted with two cage
mast bearing fire control platforms
for controlling the fire of the guns,
similar to the familiar type designed
BY American constructors and now
fitted on all battleships of the United
States navy. Another feature Of its
appearance that Immediately attracts
attention is the clipper type Of bow,
instead OF the conventional ram.
The use Of electricity throughout
the vessel will be most extended. In
addition 10 the main pfopelling en-
zines Of the ship, the handling Of the
ammunition and firing Of the guns
will be done by electricity, boats will
be hoisted In and out, anchors raised,
the vessel stecred and ventilating
blowers operated BY electricity.
Other minor machines driven BY
electricity will be potato peeling,
which Is performed IN separate COM
partment, the machine having ca
pacity Of 1000 pounds per hour; ice
cream freezing, complete laundry in.
stallation, printing machinery. food
and meat grinder, kitchen and cake
machine Of sixty-quart capacity,
dough mixer OF two barrels per hour
and dish-washing machine that will
handle 1000 dishes per hour.
Characteristics Of Ship.
The principal characteristics Of the
California are as follows;
Length. over all. ga feet.
Breadth. ninety-six feet
Depth. forty-seven feet, two Inches.
Mean draft, thirty feet. three inches,
Dlspiacement lat this drsft). $4,000 tons.
speed. twenty-one knots twelve hours).
Fuel oil capacity normal, 1900 tons.
Twsivs fourtesn.inen ssst, -caliber. bre.ch-
loading rides.
-Four submerged torpedo tubes.
Twenty-Five ive-inch rapid IRE guns,
-Four six-pounder guns for saluting.
Two one -pounder guns for boats.
-Four three-inch anti-sircraft guns.
One three Inch landing gun.
Two ihirty.caIibcr machine guns,
The fourtecn-inch main battery
guns are Of an exceptionally powerful
type, and will be mounted in thrces,
ID four eenter-line, heavily armored
turycts.
The complement Of the vessel is
iifty-eieht officers and 1,022 men.
Every convenience necessary for the
health and comfont Of officers and
crew has been carefully thought out
III this ship.
The name California previously was
borne by an armed cruiser Of the Pa
Ieihc feet, rechristened the San Diego
when her former name was assigned
to the new battleship. The San Diego
now Is the flagship Of the Pacific feet.
It is probable the California, when
placed in commission, will take her
place,
Church Peace Union Makes
Progress with New Movement
tcorrsspondence Of The Associated Press.)
London, Aug. ls.--The alliance for
promoting international friendships
through the churches. which had its
conception in the minds OF some OF
the members Of the Church Peace