The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-02-17


teen-inch Guns and Rival Speed OF
Express Trains-Could Cross Atlantic
In Three Days ard Eight Hours-To
Cost S19.o00,ooo Each.
| A battle cruiser-such as proposed in
our new naval program-plowing her
way through the waters at thirty-five
knots an hour. if it were possible TO
keep up that speed, would make the
passage from the Ambrose channel
| lightship to Queenstown. the course
over which the steamship Mauretania
made her record of days. 10 hours
and Al minutes. In approximately 3
days and hours. The distance be-
tween these points is estimated at
2.S14 knots. or nautical miles. The
fastest days run by the Mauretania
was at the rate of 27.04 knots.
This comparison was pointed out to
illustrate the value to the navy of
great battle cruiser which could be
shifted from point to point, either
along the coast or In transatlantic
travel. at such a pace. There is no
record of a ship now afioat which could
hope to accomplish such a record run
or cope with such a foe.
At 80 knots speed a battle cruiser
could be transferred from New York to
New Orleans on coast patrol duty,
distance Of approximately LOO knots.
in IS hours 81 minutes, a feat which
has never been accomplished or thought
possible. certainly not for an armored
battle cruiser carrying huge fourteen
inch guns. To make the run in some
what under five days is considered
good time by most of the coastwise
passenger ships.
viii Be Outstanding Feature.
The outstanding and most distinctive
feature of the naval program to be sub
mitted to congress this winter will be
request for the construction of these
battle cruisers superior In speed and
power to anything now afioat
Preliminary designs for these vessels
have been prepared by the naval CON
structors and are before the general
board. Secretary Daniels and the presi-
eral alternative designs. but the par
ticular one which will probably be
adopted calls for a battle cruiser that
will make 80 knots speed. This is
equivalent to fraction over forty land
miles an hour. The fastest battle cruis-
err thus far built by any of the powers
is designed for not more than 80 knots
81, A hot f1a
cruiser would be able to sail rings
around any foreign vessel of similar
type now in commission.
Will Have Eight Inch Armor.
The final characteristics of the pro- |
-ected battle cruiser have not been de-
.ermped by the experts of the general |
board of the navy, but the understands |
ne is that this new type of vessels
main armor will be about eight inches
hick. and the vessel will mount eight
guns of 80 caliber The
,ost of the battle cruiser will be about
,1S.000.000, or about $3.000.000 more
han the Dreadnought battleships now
,eing built for the United States navy.
The battleships TO be recommended In
his years naval program will also cost
bout S1S.000,000 each.
Officials of the navy department re-
rained from disclosing the detailed
of the projected battle
ruiser Secretary Daniels admitted
hat the vessel was designed for thirty
we knots. Another high official said
he propelling machinery would consist
f turbines. Beyond this nc informa-
ion was obtainable from any source as
0 the essential characteristics of the
rejected warsHip. When one high Off
ial was asked how it was proposed to
btain the speed Of thirty-five nautical =
lilies an hour he responded:
That's our secret"
The American navy has no battle
ruisers and is lacking In scout cruisers. r
couts are the eyes of battleship feet, .
nd without them any combination of
however powerful. is great
Handicapped The recent naval war U
anne disclosed the urgent need of S
,outs. The battle cruisers now pro I |;
,cted will be able to serve as scouts, +
Though that will not be the primary .
motion of these units. The idea OF
lperts of the navy is that there should
. not less than a division of battle II
.uisers. and that it should be attach o
to the Atlantic battleship feet. a
hey would be utilized by the feet in a
,ertaking battleships of the enemy en- V
aavoring to escape from or trying to n
ude the fleet. also in scouting to dis
,ver the presence of the enemy's feet II
Id in attacking vessels of the greatest II
,wer whenever taken by the superior
,eed Of the battle cruisers.
The battle cruisers for which prelim- :
airy plans have been proposed for the i
wv will be Dreadnoughts in reality.
they may be classed as battleships
superior speed. As explained by one
the navys experts. a battle cruiser
a vessel that has just few less big
ms. and just a little lighter armor
an battleships. the sacrifices OF both
which are compensated for by their
ear speed. Speed is an element which
e American navy lacks. Its battle
ips are as fast as battleships general
around the world. but there is no