The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-25
GREATEST OF ALL
u. S. BATTLESHIPS
TAKES TO WATER
Dreadnaught Mississippi is
Launched Today at New
port News Yards.
COMPLETED COST Il
IS SIG, 1000, 900
Vessel Will Be of $4,000
HORSEPOWER and Will
Make 81 Knots.

Newport News, Va, Jan. 25.-The
dreadnought Mississippi, which will
be one of the worlds most efficient and
powerful fighting machines, was
launched here today. She was
christened by Miss Camille McBeath.
of Meridian, Miss, daughter of J. M.
McBeath, member of the National
Democratic Committee.
Only the shell of the great sea fight
err TOOK to the water but even
without armament and machinery it
represents an expenditure of nearly
$4,000, 900. When she is ready to take
her place in the battle fleet the gov
ernment will have spent almost twice
that amount on her.
The Mississippi is the third Ameri-
can warship to bear that name, Sec
retary of Navy Daniels said in an adj
dress at the luncheon given by the
builders. It was on the first Missis-
sippi that Commodore Perry crossed
the Pacific to Japan and opened the
commerce of that country to America
aQd the world.
tThe first Mississippi won great re-
nown for both, the navy itself and the
flag it few Secretary Daniels said.
Its record was always an inspiration
to- the second Mississippi and the
Mississippi it is needless to say, will
seek to emulate it's courage and
achievements.
Besides Matthew Galbraith Perry,
the decks Of the old Mississippi were
trod by another sea fighter who was
estinedf to become q world figure.
Lieut.. George Dewey was executive
officer Of the Mississippi when she
helped Farragut to fight his way past
the forts below New Orleans and fore.
ed the formidable Confederate ram
Manassas to run aground and then
destroyed her with couple Of broad
sides. Later the Mississippi ran
aground during the bold attack on
Fort Hudson where she caught fire
and finally blew UP. Capt. Smith in
his report commended Dewey for his
GOODNESS. and ga1lantry on this occa-
sion.' -
The second Mississippi rendered
her service in time Of peace, contin-
ned the secretary. She was author
lied in 1903 and was sold to Greece
on July 8,1914
The new Mississippi, Mr.. Daniels
said, will have 10 times the displace-
ment Of the first Mississippi and her
batteries will have 1000 times the
destructive power Of the batteries of
the old ship.
The Mississippi was laid down in
April, 1915, and will be ready to be
commissioned late next fall. Except
for slight modification in certain prin-
ciples Of design, the Mississippi Will be
a duplicate of the dreadnoughts Penn
sylvania and Arizona, recently COM
missioned.
The new battleship will have max
imum speed of FL knots, will displace
$4,000 tons on trial and $4,000 when
fully loaded, and will have a length
over all of 624 feet It's engines will
be of the Curtis turbine type, pro-
ductive of an estimate horse power Of
$4,000. Like the other latest battle
ship. it will be equipped with oil-burn-
ing boilers.
The main battery of the Mississippi
will be twelve 14-inch so calibre rifles,
placed thre to the turret. In addition
there will be twenty-five 5-inch, 81
calibre rapid-fire guns, four 3-inch an
ti-aircraft rifles, two 21-inch torpedo |
tubes submerged, and the usual saIut- |
ing guns.