WORLDS LARGEST CRUISER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 53, 20 July 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

WORLDS LARGEST CRUISER

NEW JAPANESE WARSHIP. "EMBODIMENT OF PEACE," Loudon, June 1. Tliu largest and most powerful cruiser of all the world's navies was launched recently from Messrs Vickers' naval construction works at Barrow. The cruise! is for Japan, and is named the Kongo. Her length is 704 ft, her breadth 92ft, draught gfft (Jin, displacement 27,500 tons' «pWd 28 knots, full coal capacity 4000 tons, oil' fuel capacity 1000 tons, and shaft horse-power approximately 70,000. She will carry eight 14in guns, 10 ft in and 10 smaller guns, with a large number of submerged broadside torpedo tubes. The 14in guns are being adopted for the first time in a cruise*. They will be mounted in pairs in four barbettes—two forward and two aft—all on the ctntre line. These barbettes will be so arranged that four guns can be fitted either forward or aft, and all eight on either broadside, The 6in guns will be fitted in easements on the UDuer deck level. The armored protection of the Kongo has been made specially effective against torpedo attack. The main broadside armor is carried to the height of the boat deck; the magazines are completely surrounded with steel armor of exceptional thickness, and massive armored bulkheads protect every vital part of the great ship. The propelling machinery will include turbine engines of the combined impulse and reaction type, an<l the water-tube boilers will burn oil fuel as well as coal. The Japanese colors of crimson , and white were everywhere in evidence on the launching platforms. The naming ceremony was, in the absence abroad of the Ambassador's wife, charmingly performed by a Japanese lady, Madame Koike, wife of the first secretary of the Japanese Embassy. The Japanese Ambassador, Baron Kato, was present, and so also were several high officials of the Vickers firm, including Mr. A. Vickers and Sir Trevor and Lady Dawson, Viscount and Viscountess Okuchi, and Miss Izine Vickers. There were no speeches or prayers. Madame Koike, who wa9 wearing a costume entirely in Quakeress shades of grey, touched a small silver lever in front of her, and a bottle of red wine of a brand much favored in Japan crashed against the bows of the towering ship, and at once she became known as the Kongo. Presently, amid a pandemonium of cheering, she glided I down the well-greased way, a red and white striped balloon pendant from the bow of the Kongo burst open and released a hundred doves, the sweet birds of ■ peace 'hovering for some minutes over the new warship. Covers were laid at luncheon' for 500 guests, and after loyal toasts Mr. Vickers toasted the Kongo, and presented Madame Koike with a souvenir penjdant brooch in pearls and diamonds. Mr. Koike replied for the ship and for his wife. In the course of a speech spoken I with extraordinary command of the Eng-1 | lish language, he said : "The auspicious ; | event of to-day not only revives memories of the past, but it also revives I the feeling of that everlasting friendship which connects the peoples of England and Japan. We feel as if we have witnessed another demonstration, another ! manifestation, of that strong international combination called the Anglo-Jap-anese Alliance. The Kongo is the latest production of the art and science of English shipbuilding. Her materials are principally of English produce, moulded into shape by the skill of English shipbuilders; she is imbued with the warm feelings of the constructors, the designers, the engineers, all sympathetic to their friends in Japan. She is English body and soul, and yet she will belong to the Japanese navy, manned by Japanese officers and men; she is an ideal embodiment of the alliance, the object of which is the maintenance of peace, not 1 only in the Par East, but in all parts 1 of the world." .....