The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-08-29
BOA 5 Being Bull
BY FORD SCRIBED.
New Type Of Craft Expected %
Be Of Great Service Put
ting Down the Hun.

Detroit.-With the launching OF Eagle
I. the first of the fleet OF submarine
uestroyers being built by Henry Ford
Tor the United States navy, detailed In
1orma ton concerning the construction,
purposes and possibilities OF this new
est naval weapon became public for
the first time. The general belief that
the boats were little more than exag-
yerated launches, equipped with light
guns, was dispelled when the ves-
sci, 204 feet long. larger than the old
type of United States destroyers, was
dropped into the waters Of River Rouge
by a great mechanism operated by
hydraulic pressure Talulated by
dates the story OF the Eagle is this:
December %, 1917--Henry Ford Of
Hered to. build boats for the navy.
December 27-Dfscussed plans with
washington officials. sc 85
January 10, 1918.--Navy department
awarded Ford company contract for
Eagles
January 1s-work on design Of
Eagles completed
January 26.-First piece for boat was
completed.
February keel for first Eagle was
February Reconstruction Of the
sshipbuildlng plant began.
March Hull OF the first Eagle was
( ~
May 1o.--work on the construction
plant.
June 15.-several boats were as.
July 11.-First completed boat
The Eagles are within 30 feet of APP
proximating the length of the standard
$500 ton wooden ships being built for
the emergency fleet corporation.
Viewed from above deck, the Eagle
Us much more like a founder than a
maciSerei. It's midship cross section
bears a strong likeness to the lines of
q canal barge. It's stern is square
and blunt. The remainder Of the
ship is built generally in straight
Hines and plane surfaces. The bow,
however tapers to knife-hke edge,
seemingly sharp enough and strong
enough literally to cut a submarine In
two.
Except for the high deck house and
the bridge little forward amidships,
Utility has been the ruling cons.dera-
tion, with low cost production second
in importance, and with beauty and
comfort only incidentals.
The Eagles are built to pass easily
through the Welland canal and the
boats; draught and beam are also small
enough to permit the boatsf passing
through the New York state barge
canal. The boats will have a draw of
eight feet when fully equipped and
ready for sea. A steam turbine, geared
to the propeller shaft on which is
mounted a single three-blade screw of
rather deep pitch, furnishes the motive
power. Crude oil will be used as fuel.
The tank capacity is easily sufficient
for steaming radius equal to the dis
1ance across the Atlantic.
There is not forging or rolled beam
in the entire ship. Everything is
pressed from sheet metal, cold, by
means of automatic machinery that
cuts every piece to an exact pattern,
then punches the rivet holes and bends
every part to it's required shape.
After the launching of the first Eagle
Mr. Ford said: II am. of course, de-
lighted at this initial success, but
knew it would be nIf right When you
Dave task like this, entrusted to men
who knew their business, it can't go
M-rol.g. left them alone--but watched
all Of she time.
There's no use making unnecessary
fuss over little launching. We've
get a lot more back in the shops nearly
ready to follow Eagle l.,