p. 464 | The War-Ship Program

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 28, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 29.

The War-Ship Program

PRESIDENT WILSON'S signature affixed to the naval appropriation bill authorizes the construction of two super-Dreadnoughts and fourteen auxiliary war-ships. Congress has also authorized the sale of the battle-ships Idaho and Mississippi, and the proceeds will go to the building of a third super-Dreadnought.

The navy department will sell these out-of-date battle-ships to a private firm; and this firm, it is understood, will resell them to the Greek government. The building of both the Idaho and the Mississippi was authorized by Congress in 1903, and at that time they were rated as "first-class battle-ships," and are of thirteen thousand tons displacement. But they would not stand any chance at all now with the great super-Dreadnoughts.

These "first-class battle-ships" of eleven years ago had a speed of seventeen knots an hour; but the up-to-date battle-ship is not only of more than twice the displacement, but it must have a speed of at least twenty-five knots.

Facts of this character are among the little incidents that show the terrific intensity with which the demons of war are driving the world forward in its preparations for the great day of Armageddon.