The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-02-09

THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

Il would take In M event 90 war be-
tween this country aud Germany is a
question that quite naturally IL being
given a great deal Of consideration at
this time. The burden Of carrying ON
hostnIties would updcsbtcdly fall
upon the navy. its submarines and the
mosquito fleet.
u perhaps will be "a surprise 20
many people ia learn that tie United
states has the strongest. heaviest. most
powerful effective fist .re OF battle
stips in the world. such. however. Is
the case. But our navy ~ not the big
nest IN number OF vesseln.
When the snper-dreaoicught Ari-
zona was PLACED in service In octobe.
the last OF the ships Of re.dread-
nought DAYS was taken from the first
~ and given a position in the reserve
force OF the Atlantic fieci The crew
OF the reIesated battle ship anc the
crews ~ two other hattie ships OF
equal size were required 60 man the
new sea fighter.
The Atlantic fleet. with It's super
dreadnought fighting line. was at the
trimming n at Guantanamo. cuba.
when relations between he Unite,
states and Germany hecame tense ear
Iy in the week. Admiral Henry T.
Mayo. commandcr-in-chief ~ the
fleet. was officially notified immedi-
aiely Of what was likely To transpire.
in what manner he has disposed ~ his
fleet OF more than a hundred fighting
vessels is known only to q few IN
Washington.
There were fourteen battle ships In
the fleet which slipped quietly away
from the practice range at the first
warning + trouble. Ten Of the four
teen were Of the superdreadnoughi
type. while four were vessels contract
ed for and built before 1913.
The Arizona. newest addition q
the neet, IS h biggest Of them ali
Nene Of the naval powers has a fight.
ing vessel tina can reach il IN size. II
Is larger by two hundred tom tina she
Pennsylvania. the flagship Of Admira.
Mayo. OF which IL IL a sister ship.
u viii be a damaging foe for an
enemy 10 mee.. It's twelve li-inch suns
fire "a broadsidc Of 10000 pounds ~
steel. which can be directed aceuratei,
at a mark fifteen miles distant Tn
hrosdside il 5000 pounds more than
the combined ~hroadsides Of tho Kansai
Vermont and New Hampshire, siip
that have been placed In the reserv'
fleet.
The displacement ~ the Arizona .
81. o. tons. II Is propelled by cl
burning engines. which drive II al
speed averaging twenty knots m hour
II Uncle sam hasn't already ampl,
provided for the protection of M
country and for reression IN the lars
ships now In service. there Is stiil
naval program TO be completed b
1879. Ten new battle ships are To y
In service BY that time, and they a.
to he even bigger than those now !
the line. Some ~ them are under cor
strucuon now, and will be finishe
next year.
rhey viii incinde five ships o uI
der construction u $1,000 tons cac
. ...fr 1917 fgf.ul ann
three battle ships Of the enoWlul
dlspla cement OF 42.0oO tons each az
costing - million dollars 20 build an
arm, six battle cruisers. ~ which III
United states is poorly supplied Ie
scout cruisers. and l22 other vessels
a wal Of submarines would find IN
ountry with comparatively few nj
Gersoa vessels which could leave n
coast with safety. Provision has bee
made in the 1917 navy program Il
additional fleet submarines. but unlsi
the contracts are hurried the vesse
viii not be ready for Use until nel
year.
~ ~ hffTsitshF 49, EAANAANA "
mentioned as part of the defense OF th
nati9n. IL IL the notilla Of privetel
owned motor boats and pleasure craft
Of the rich men IN the eastern state
The small boats, navy experts has
said, can be Of geat service ~ he bat
tie ships IN protecting them againl
submarine attacks. The first urainin
OF the small fleet was held last fan oI
the Atlantic coast.
The following auper-dreadnoughl
OF 32.O00-ton class are under constru'
tlon.
California.
Tennessee.
New Mexico frcady In six months).
Mississippi tready In six months).
Idaho (ready In six mouths).
The following super-dreadnough'
are in service;
ATizon. $1,000 tons.
Pennsylvania. $500 tons
Nevada. 1880 tons.