TWICE AS BIG AS A DREAD NOUGHT.

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1910, Page 7

TWICE AS BIG AS A DREAD NOUGHT.

MONSTER BATTLESHIP FOR THE UNITED STATES.

Mr Meyer, Secretary of the Navy, is determined that America shall not be left behind in the race for nava* iv premacy. It was stated thtt the yiogr^mme whicli he will subriiit to Congrecs foi J this 3'ear will provide for the construction of, two Dreadnoughts, probably 28,000 tons eachj but, not content with beating Europe in the matter of tonnage, it iy now stated that his i>lans for 1911 include a monster of 32,000 tons. This super Dreadnought is to be' arm ed with twelve 14in guns, each firing a projectile weighing 1650 pounds, and it is expected to cost/ £3,600.000 It will easily .'be seen what a treuriendou:i advance in power this ship will, be on the original English Dread nought, which displaces only 17,900 tons, and her sister ships, Bellerophon; Superb, arid Temeraire, of 18,600 tons. Presumia.hly, th's 'monster will have fi brpadside of ten or twelve gunri, and a head and stern fire of flight gun&. The British vessel being axmed with ten 12-inch guns, . firing projectile of 12501 b, can only- manage a. broadside of eight guns, throwing 10,0001b ■•weightof metal, which would be considerably inferior to the American « head or as tern fire, which amounts to 13,2001 b. Whilst naval men do not raicn seri-' oiis 'objections to the size of the vessels many are of "opinion that the extra weight of the 14-inch shell will be discounted by the superior rapidity of fire of 12-i>nch weapons. Mr Myer is firmly convinced that the strength lies in fjize. and not in numbers. He is supported by Mr Taft, wbo, in a speech at Newark recently declared that he was in favour of a naval programme prjovicliing for' Xtfreadnougjhts of the largest size, and apparently the Naval Committee of the House of Hrepreeeiitatives has been converted to his views. The construction of such monster battleships will necessitate enlargement of most of the American harbours. notably 1 Portsmouth, Brooklyn, and Norfolk. For years there has been a bitter fight in America, between the advocates of Dreadnoughts and the pre-Dreadnoughfc type. Mr Myer has the approval of most of the naval ofi> oeiV/ on the active list, who complain against the out-of-date schemes of what they term "the rocking-chaiv adriiirS/ls." Tho 'leader of the opposition is 'ommander W. L. Capps, Chief Constructor of- the- United States Navy, who h.-s strongly resisted the construction of Avarehips of ' over. 12,000 tons.