Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-03
AMERICAS WARsH|Ps
SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHERS
Observation-Disclosures Machinery Puts
New Fighters in Class by
Themselves.
DANIELS EXPLAINS RESULTS
Turbo-Electric Equipment OF Super
Drcadnought New Mexico Gives
Maximum Power and Speed mt
Minimum Fuel Expenditure.
IBy Associated Prea,.l

NNSfilNG1ON, January Amer
ica's capital lighting ships Of the fu-
turc will be superior to those OF other
nations because OF their electrically
driven machinery. Secretary Daniels
told the House Naval Committee to-
day in disclosing remarkable results
attained by the new Drcadnought New
Mexico. equipped with the electric
drive which is to be feature OF all
the big ships authorized since 1916.
The New Mcxico's turbo- electric ma
chinery was designed to develop 26.5oo-
horsepower at full speed, and to give
She actually Developed more than
81 81 90. horse poTer" Mr.. Daniels said;
Of q I.i knots. and this his M 1S run npfe
at a displacement 1000 tons greater
than her design called for.
With ali ships: she would have made
snd is ANY s ir0 Se1;er wha he
as her fuel lasted for sP Ike all 'o oaf
burner, and there would be no reduc-
ton In speed n.e due to the necessity Of
coal burning ships after a run OF four
hours d; top speed.
FUEL ECONOMY SOUGHT
AT CRUISING SPEED
The secretary said fuel economy at
.
things sought in substituting electric
drive for the ordinary turbine equip
ment.
that this requirement. also was met.
AZ matter of fact the New Mexico
Will steam at ten knots on about %
per cent less fuel than the best tur-
bine- driven ship that preceded her
has cause to be- proud of This his sehievcy
ment in engineering. not alone because
OF the pronounced success in this par
G n httt
assurance il gives of the superiority
OF our capital ships to those of foreign
The. secretary discussed the possibil-
ity OF converting all naval vessels to
Commander p w.fFoote gave a tech
nicai exclamation OF the superiority of
eiiectrica ny driven machinery. and de-
called an expe rimcnt no longer
Questioned by Chairman Padgett as
10 the comparative. expense of install
ing Inc new machinery, Commander
Foote, said it was much cheaper and
mad the advantage OF being more en-
LONDON NEWSPAPER
WANTS DANIELS "REsTRAISED,
Secretary Daniels. before the House
Naval Committee again to-day to dis
cuss the new appropriation bill. was
she sh9w ;S'. en- article in the London Graphic
statement that the United States should
nave navy second to none unless the
neace conference limited ornaments.
The London paper urged that Presi-
dent Wilson instruct the secretary to
restrain his language.
They don't understand" said Mr..
Daniels. He smllingly refused to COM
ment further.
Questioned in regard to the policy
! OF the Navy Department in granting
discharges to enlisted men. Secretary
Daniels said this was one OF his most
ve1atious problems. Thousands of ap
piications for discharge are being made
he said. and 1t is impossible to release
all.
he department has decided 10 give
hrst confederation to men with de-
pendents," he added. ''and those who
desire to return to school are consid
cred second"
Mr.. Daniels said the rate OF new en-
listments would determine to a large
extent the rate by which enlisted men
may be released. During the last week.
he said. there have been about 100 en- :
listments a day.