The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-05-26
BATTLESHIP TO
 BE READY SOON
 TO COMMISSION

ficers and 1922 men to be assigned to the battleship California now in process of construction at the Mare Island navy yard near here, take up their quarters on the latest and most formidable of the nations fighting craft of her class, they will find every modern convenience provided for their safety and comfort.
 While every known protection will be provided against mine and sub. marine attack, and naval officers consider the California will be as nearly impregnable against destruc- tion as 1t is possible to build ship, the feature comforts of the men will include 8 dental office. barber shop and a score of conveniences us- ually associated with hotels. An cleo. tric potato peeler which can handle 1000 pounds an hour, electric ice cream freezer. electric food and meat grinder, electric cake machine with 60 quart capacity and a dish washing machine which will handle 1000 dishes an hour will be among the conveniences which will both speed ,.,> o~A E-N<o~ <hn ,vorlr
 Electricity will play an important part on the great battleship for It's use will be extensive. The main en. zines of the vessel will be electric. the electric generators driven by steam turbines of 28,000 horse pow. CT. the steam supplied by oil burn ing water tube boilers. Electricity will handle the ammunition. fire the guns, raise and lower boats and an. chors. steer the ship and regulate the ventilating blowers.
 The California keel was laid on October 25th. 1916. and she soon will be ready to leave the ways. Her sis. ter ship the Tennessee. built at the New York navy yard, was recently launched and the California will not be far behind her.
 Work on the dreadnough,s was practically suspended during the war in order that right of way might bc given to vessels more needed and at Mare Island this resulted in con. centration on destroyer building and the conversion and repair of naval vessels for war purposes.
 Since the signing of the armistice the work on the California has been resumed. Her cost when the award was made to Mare Island three years ago was placed at $7.413.516.
 Her dimensions are: Length over all. 624 feet: breadth. 96 it.; depth, AZ it. ? inches: mean draft. 30 it. inches; displacement at this draft, S2.300 tons; speed 2l knots for 12 hours: fuel capacity (normal) 1900 tons. Her armament will consist of twelve 14". .60 caiber, breech load ing rifles. four submerged torpedo tubes. twenty two s" rapid fire guns: {: four six pounder guns for salutins. two one pounder guns for boats. four 3" anti-aircraft guns: one 3" landing gun and two 80 caliber guns. The IA inch main battery guns are of ex. ceptionally powerful type and will be mounted in threes in four centerline. heavily armored turrets.
 The California is built with a clip. per type of bow instead of the usual ram. She will be fitted with two cage masts bearing fire control plat. forms for controlling the firing of the guns. She will carry high pow. CT motor boats of the hydroplane type. A complete carpenter and ma. chine shop. with each machine in. dependently. electrically driven. will be provided.
 When the keel of the vessel was laid the first rivet was driven by an honorary riveting gang headed by Senator James D. Phelan as rivet tester.
 The launching of the California. the first battleship ever built in a navy yard on the Pacific coast, will be made gala event Already Mare Island has orders to build another super-dreadnought and as soon as the California leaves the ways they will be widened 50 as to accommo. date the even larger vessel which is to be constructed. Later a slip for the construction of battle cruisers will be built.
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 EsTHoNiANs HAVE CAPTURED
 VERY MANY PRl0oNERS.