THE UNITED STATES NAVY

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 13

THE UNITED STATES NAVY

The launching of the battleship Ohio was indeed a notable event. The -Hessel is one of the three largest in the American navy. The new Maine and the Missouri are sister ships, of equal size and power. They will be in every essential — size, power, weight of metal thrown, destroying power of guns, speed, armour, and appliances — equal to any of the world's battleships. The Ohio is 40ft longer over all than the Oregon, and has a thousand tons greater displacement. The Spanish war proved to naval experts the uselessness of enormously large gun calibre, and the pound for pound oin and 12in guns of the Ohio are expected to pxcel the Bin and 13in guns of the lowa and the Oregon. The Ohio and her class are the first battleships of the American navy in which water-tube boilers are provided. The construction of the Ohio and her class was authorised by Congress in 1898 at a contract price of 2,899,000d0] for the hull and machines. She will be ready for service in about a year. Preceding the launching of the great ship, the President delivered a graceful speech, which was received with most enthusiastic applause by the 3000 or more men assembled. The President expressed his thankfulness to God for the merciful change which permitted him to be present, and spoke feelingly of his interest in the battleship which w ould carry the name of his own beloved State into the far seas. He responded to the presentation of the beautiful gold plate, which the workmen had prepared as a souvenir to him of the occasion.