The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-21
THIRD ELECTRIC BATTLESHIP HAS
 BEEN LAUNCHED
"California" Cost More Than $15,0OO, ,000-Is
 First Glass Ship.

Vallejo, Cal, Nov. 21.-The third electric driven Super-dreadnouSht was added to the United States navy afloat today when the California was launched at the Mare Island navy yard here.
 In the use of electricity as a means of propulsion, the new fighting ship follows the example set in the build ing of the New Mexico and Ten nessee.
 The California is expected to cost more than $15, 100000 and will carry twelve 14-inch guns. Besides being electrically driven, the new, warship will be electrically operated from her guns to her potato-peeHng machine.
 As the great craft slid into the water she was cheered by Governor William D. Stephens, of California, his daughters Mrs. Randolph T. Zane, who sponsored the war vessel ana thousands of spectators. While her berth was still warm the keel of a great companion superdreadnought, the Montana, was laid within it.
 Designed by master minds sharpen ed by the urge of war, the California represents the ultimate in hShtinS dt- ness. Bulked alongside the fretWork of the ways where she had been pull ed by tugs after the launching, the great vessel showed herself to be the embattled floating city that she is. All that has been learned in the war in regard to the fitting up of dread thoughts has been put in this latest addition to the American navy.
 The CaIifornia's keel was laid Oc- tober Is, 1916, but during the war the men who fabricated her turned their tools to the knocking together of other and smaller warcraft de- signed to fight the submarine. For two years not a r. ct was driven but upon the signing of the armistice the great hull again swarmed, clanked and rang with life and it was heated, - beaten and turned Into the mighty craft that was launched today.
 In commission, the California will have a crew of 1,022 men and 5 of ficers, full complement. She has a length over all of 624 feet, a breadth of 96 feet and & depth of 47.2 feet. Her displacement at her mean draught of 3O.5 feet would be 32,000 tons. She has an estimated speed of q knots an hour and a normal fuel capacity of 1900 tons.
 It is estimated that she is fully thirty per cent. better protected than any other vessel in the United States navy, not excluding the New Mexico.
 Her great turbines of 28,000 horse power are the principal unit of the California's electric system. The guns will be fired by electricity. Her ven tilation, steering, supplying of power to the drive shaft, laundering, print ing, ice-cream freezing, cake-making and dishwashing all will be electri- caIly operated. Although this has brought her total cost to something in excess of $15, 100000, a saving in fuel is expected quickly to offset this cost Her hull alone cost S7.80O,000.
 In armament the California will rank high. Besides her twelve 14- inch guns, she will carry four sub- merged torpedo tubes, 25 two inch rapid fire guns, four six-pounders two one-pounders, four three int ch anti-aircraft guns. one 3-inch landing She will be a fitting example of the Hast word" in battleship designinE and fitting. and, and will be the frs ship of her class to be turned ou out in a Pacific Coast shipyard.
 The award for the California wa. made at the same time the Tennesset was contracted for. The Tennessee built in an eastern shipyard, was tt be a sister ship of the California but she was launched before many O. the improvements going into the Cali fornia were reduced to the efficiency that they hold today.