UNITED STATES NAVY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13832, 20 February 1907, Page 5

UNITED STATES NAVY.

TWO DREADNOUGHTS TO BE BUILT. Press Association—By Tolegrapli—Copyright. NEW YORK, February 19. (Received Feb. 19, at 10.50 p.m.) 'The United States Naval Gipimittee has indorsed tho Appropriation Bill, which includes 3,000,000d0l to bo applied to the increase of armaments and new battleships, bringing the aggregate for these purposes [o 12,000,Q00d01. Two Dreadnoughts are included in the naval programme.

Mr Bonaparte,.secretary for tho navy, in his annual report, expressed tho belief that the conditions had so far changed sinco his last report, as to necessitate a moderato incrcfl.sc ill tho ollcetivo lighting force of the navy, and thoroforo recommended Congress to authorise llio inrtnediato' construction of two battleships of tho largest class instead of one, for which plans have been submitted to both Houses in accordance with instructions, and of two 16,000-ton battleships instead of tho one already mentioned. Mr Bonaparte lias laid before Congress plans for a battleship similar |o the Dreadnought. The chief dimensions of the new vessel are:—Length 510 ft, beam 85ft 2jjiii, di, ught 27ft. displacement 20,000 tons, coal capacity 2300 tons, speed 21 knots.' The plans have bpen prepared by Iho Bureau of Naval Construction. The ship will have a broadside lire of 25 pep cent, more powerful than any battleship yet built, and the elevation of her guns will also bo greater lhau is tho case in any oilier vessel, thus tVing' her an increased long-rango fire. Iter defensive qualities will also be distinctly superior lp those of the most modern vessel of her class. The arinanient will consist of ten_l2in guns and fourteen 4in onicklirors, besides a number of small machine guns to repel 'attacks by torpedo boats, The cost of tlio vessel is estimated at 6,000,000 dollars.