Twice as Big as the Dreadnought.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 April 1910, Page 2

Twice as Big as the Dreadnought.

.MOXSIKK BATTLKSiI 11 3 KOR

I'MT.KI) STATJOfc!

.Mr .Meyer, Secretary of the Xavv, ;;s determined that America, shah not he left behind in the race for naval supremacy. It was stated that the- programme which lie will submit to Congress lor this year will provide for t!:e eooslruetion of t*v;> Dreadnoughts, probably 23,000 ton", each : hut. not content with beating Kurope in the matter of tannage, it is now stated that his plans lor 1!M1 include a monster of .'{2,000 lens. This super-Dreadnought is to !>.• armed with twelve 1 -I-inch guns, each iiring a projectile weighing' I (jo!) pounds, and is expected to cos' £.'5.000,000. It will be easily s"./s what tremendous advance in powe. - this fillip will be on the original Knglish Dreadnought, which dis plac; s (.illy 17 tons, and her si-ler ship-, 'Belerephon, Superb ant! Temenire. of 13,000 tons. Presumably. this moii'-'ter will have «a broa. I side t.-f ten oi Uvelve guns, and head and stern (ire of eight guns.

The British vessel being armed with ten 12-inch guns, tiring pro jectiles of 12o01b, can only manage a broadside of eight guns, throw ing 10,()()()lb weight of metal, which would be considerably inferior to the American ahead or astern lire, which amounts to T.'i.2oolb.

Whilst naral niciii do not mis.' serious objectitms to the size of the vessel, many arc of opinion that tin extra weight of the 11-inch shell will be discounted by the superior rapidity of fire of- 12-inch weapons Mr Meyer is firmly convinced that strength lies in size and not members. lie is supported by Mr Taft, who in a speech at .Newark recently declared that he was in favour of a nival programme providing for Dreadnoughts of the largest size, and apparently the Xnval Committee of the House of Pepresentatives has been converted to his views.

The construction of such monster battleships will necessitate enlargement of most of tlie American harbours, notably Portsmouth, Brooklyn and Norfolk. For years there has been a bitter fight in America between the advocates of Dreadnoughts and the pre-Dreadnought type. Mr Meyer has the approval of most of the naval officers on the active list, who complain against the out-of-date schemes of what thev term "the rocking-chair admirals." The leader of the opposition i.s Commander W. L. Capps, Chief Constructor of 'the United States Navy, who has strongly _ resited the construction of warships of over 12,000 tons.