Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
NEW U. S. CRUISER
TO BEGIN SERVICE
Second Chicago Last Of
Eight 10000 Ton Craft
Authorized in 1924.

BY .he Associated Press
MARE ISLAND, Calf, March 7.-For
the second time in naval history the
Chicago will join Americas fighting
craft.
This time the Chicago is cruiser
No. 2e, last of the eight lG,000-ton
cruisers authorized by Congress in 1924
It will be commissioned at Mare Island
Navy Yard Monday.
Forty-five years ago her namesake
went down the ways across the CONT
nent to mark the passing of sail-driven
fighting craft.
front of the Battle Fleet as soon as she
has completed tests and her shake
down" cruise. She will replace the bat
tleship Texas as flagship for Admiral
j. ". Chase, commander OF the Battle
The eight new Chicago,
Salt Lake City, Pensacola, Chester.
Louisville, Northampton, Augusta and
Houston-more than double the cruiser
tonnage Of the Navy. When Congress
the Navy had but 10 cruisers with a
tonnage Of 70,50o. The eight new boats
add 10000 tons, bringing this division
closer to the cruiser complement OF
other primary sea powers.
Long Congress Debates.
interviewer with fights over raising
the elevation of guns. congressional de-
bate on the naval construction bill, in
Guiding the cruisers, continued through
out the year before it was passed
December "a, 1924. Argument over gun
elevation was In connection with the
treaty of 1922 and was intended 70
bring the range of United States craft
on parity with Great Britain.
Under this treaty the type Of the
1o,ooo-ton cruisers was specified, re-
sulting in their being known as
"treaty-type" light cruisers.
Although authorized In 1924, funds
were not available until 1927. Their
cost was limited to $ll 100000 each, ex-
elusive of armament
Their main armament consists of nine
S-inch guns mounted in three incloSed
turrets, two forward and one aft. The
pieces are capable of bombarding the
enemy Is miles away.
Other Guns Carried.
In addition, the cruisers carry four
B-irch 25-caiiber anti-aircraft guns,
eight anti-aircraft machine guns, two
triple 2l-inch above-water torpedo
tubes, two 3-pound saiuting guns. two
l-pound boat guns and 3-inch land
ing piece.
Driven by four propellers, each II
feet in diameter, the cruiser Is designed
TO reach q speed Of 32.7 knots an hour.
The four driving shafts have a COM
bined horsepower Of l0T, 900.
The Chicago, like her sister ship, Is
500 feet long, with o 67-foot beam and
q designed draft Of 10 feet 81 inches.
At the commissioning ceremonies she
Is scheduled to be delivered into COM
mand Of Capt. Manley H. Simmons and
manned by Q crew Of So Officers and $50
enlisted men.
While the cruiser bespeaks the latest
word In her type, she creates no sensa-
ton as did the FIRST Chicago.
The old Chicago slid down the ways
Of John Roach & sons IN Chester, Pa,
December 5, 1885. Two years later she
steam-driven warship.
She carried sails as auxiliary motive
power, whereas previous naval craft de-
pended on sails. Her immediate prede-
cessors were equipped with steam for
auxiliary power.
She sailed under the command Of
Capt. A. T. Mahan, naval strategist
from 1893 TO 1895, when she was re-
modelled as q protected cruiser. The ad-
vent Of dreadnaughts drove the Chicago
from active service.
She Is still In use in Hawaii. Re-
christened the Alton after the Illinois
city, she was humbled to the status OF
a floating barracks for the submarine
station at Pearl Harbor.