Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-07
HOUSTON launched.
|. At NEWPORT NEWS
Miss HoIcombe, Daughter of
Former Mayor, Breaks
Bottle on Bow.
BY !. star oorrsspo4..nt of The star.

BY star Correspondent Of The star.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, September T.
Before a notable gathering here at
midday today the 10,o0o-ton cruiser
Houston Uncle Sans newest sea
fighter. was launched into the waters
Of the James River.
Miss Elizabeth Holcombe, daughter
of former Mayor Oscar Holcombe of
Houston, Tex, smashed a bottle of
water from the Houston ship channel
on the bow of the cruiser as the re-
straining blocks were released and she
slid majestically down the ways and
out into the river. A fleet of pufdng
river tugs steamed close to the Houston,
attached lines and lowed her tnshore
where the finishing touches will be
applied.
AS the cruiser emerged into the river
two airplanes were catapulted from her
decks. The planes rose gracefully and
circled the ship several times while
the crowd ashore cheered heartily.
Jahncke Makes Address.
In the absence of Secretary Adams,
Acting Secretary of the Navy Ernest
Lee Jahncke. accompanied by his aide,
Lieut.. Comdr. Robert II. Shelton. at
tended the ceremony and delivered an
address prior to the launching.
The presence of the United States
Navy Band and party of 200 Texans.
headed by Mayor Walter Monteith of
Houston, added color to the ceremony.
The Houston was built by the New
port News Ship 81 Drydock Corpora
ton, under contract with the Govern
ment. The vessel was authorized De-
cember Is. 1924. and the keel laid on
May /, 1928. She is fitted as a flag
ship and will be assigned to division
5, light cruiser division, scouting feet.
The ship has an overall length of
500 feet, with a 65-foot beam. She
In triple mounts; four 5-inch .25-cali-
Der anti-aircraft guns. two 3-pounders
and two 2l-inch triple torpedo tubes
above water. Her complement of men
includes 10 wardroom officers, IL war
rant officers. "a chief petty officers and
sic other enlisted men.
Honor to Navy and Texas.
Acting Secretary Jahncke's speech
was delivered In part as follows:
THE cruiser Houston, carrying the
name of that thriving metropolis and
seaport, will be an honor to the Navy.
Not only will she do honor to Houston.
but to the entire State of Texas, because
its famous liberator and first governor,
Sam Houston. for whom the city was
named. Is properly one Of the heroes OF
the Lone Star State.
1T is true that Texas is represented
in the battle fleet by the U. s. s. Texas,
and before the present Texas 1t was
represented by her predecessor of the
same name, which made history at
learn that the cruiser Houston is
much larger vessel than was the old
battleship Texas Of Spanish War days.
Reminded Of Inventors.
1.-The airplanes which will be pro-
PEELED from her catapult should recall
the names of Orville and Wilbur Wright.
The incandeScent globes with which the
great ship will be lighted should bring
to mind the great Edison. Vast and
complicated system OF communications
calling for hundreds of telephones re-
mind us of Bell. The steel ship itself,
its electric propulsion. its oil fuel. its
scientific stream lines, its all-electric
kitchen and bakery; these and many
more features will remind the visitors in
foreign lands of American inventions
which have been made available by
American genius to the peaceful arts of
all the world.
Finally, should like to compliment
and thoroughness with which they pre-
sented their views that the seaport of
Houston should give its name to
vessel of our Navy. I come from New
Orleans and know Houston.
I'VE all earnestly hope that the
Houston may never be called upon to
perform duty In war. AS 7 see 1t the
primary function of the Navy is to
preserve peace. Indeed, the United
States Navy is the oldest and largest
peace society In the United States. It
has never caused a war, but fortunately
when the country has been overtaken
by war the Navy has never failed to do
its share in restoring peace.
she has been built by this great
Government not as an engine of de-
struction to provoke war, but as a
symbol to preserve peace, and II she
accomplishes these aims she will have
been well worth the amount that has
been expended on her construction and
will be spent on her operation"