The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1920-04-15
0. s. s. Idaho, Queen of the Navy.

Aoj VuCOA Va VIC NoSJ'
OF the great super-dread-
naughts flying the American flag
and plowing the seven seas, the
U. ). s. Idaho is one of the most
prominent and most efficient
The Idaho is one of the latest ad.
dltions to Uncle Sam 5 first line
OF defense; she takes a leading
role III the war games played by
the newly formed Pacific fleet.
The Idaho is the best in gun
merry. Early in this year her gun.
pointers established a record fol
ships of the Idaho's class when
they made nine bulls-eyes out Of
some thirty shots at a distance Of
10000 yards-nearly twelve miles
When We consider that it is
practically impossible to see the
target with the naked eye at this
long range, the palmer we can
see the expertness Of the linen
behind the guns" Thse monster
14-inch guns hurl a projectile
weighing fifteen hundred pounds
a distance of % miles when ex-
treme elevation Is maintained. In
order to fire at this great dis
tance airplanes are utilized to
direct the gun-pointers.
The owner of a Ford automo-
bile, provided he had the space in
his tanks, could drive his machine
30,000,000 miles on the lubricating
oil carried in the tanks Of the Ida
ho. One million, three hundred
thousand gallons of fuel oil are
carried when this great battler
is ready for sea.
The heavy armor of the Idaho
if hammered into one-quarter inch
plate, would cover the city of
Cleveland. She burns 1000 in
candescent electric lights, reached
by over 100 miles of wire. Her
great electric search lights are so
powerful that a man can read a
newspaper by their light at a dis
tance of fifteen miles.
By the press of a single but
ton in the coming tower or on the
bridge Of this wonderful fighting
machine, the entire broadside Of
twelve 14-inch guns can be fired.
The wireless set on board is
capable of sending radio mes
sage to a distance of $500 miles
receiving the same. The wireless
telephone system on board the
Idaho is one of the finest in the
country. Conversations can be
carried on with perfect effect at
a distance of twenty miles.
This huge warship can be steer
ed from five different points in
the ship and by hand, steam or
electricity. twenty-five thous-
and gallons of fresh water are
used every twenty-four hours;
this is all evaporated from the
salt sea water by the ships large
evaporators. It is conceded that
this is the purest water IN the
world.
The Idaho, when in fighting
trim, carries a crew OF l.4OO offl-
GERS and enlisted men.
The displacement of the Idaho
is 32,5OO tons. She cost about
$2O,OOO,OO, and was built and
placed in commission in three
wears. Captain Carl 7. Vegelges-
ang, U. S. Navy, is her command
inc officer and Commander Rails
ton S. Holmes. l.. s. Navy, IS her
executive officer
Although the Idaho was COM
missioned at lie Navy Yard at
Philadelphia only a year ago, her
crew has had an opportunity to
see a great deal Of the country.
Her trial trip" -"shake down =, -
cruise was made to Cuba. She
returned to New York and then
made a splendid cruise to- Brazil
with the president of that country
as a guest of the American Coy
eminent. or She cruised up the
Southern California coast and her
crew was given chance to take
shore leave at nearly all the ports.
She then went to San Francisco
and thence to Seattle, and the
great Puget Sound Navy Yard at
Bremerton, Wash. The Idaho IS
now in Southern California taking
mart in the manoeuvers OF the "a