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Show NEW SCOUT CRUISERS. Important Addition to Bo Made to United States Navy. WASHINGTON. April 15-Rlds were opt nod at tho Navy department today for the construction of three scout cruisers which were authorized by the act of Congress Con-gress of April 27. 190-1. With the completion of lliee ships there will ho a. bled t. iho n.'ivv a m-w and unique type of vessel. In the opinion of naval Officers the war In the far East has demonstrated tho great value of these ships, and vine.- these are planned to have a big speed and great steaming radius, they aro expect.-. 1 to prove Important ad-cbt ad-cbt Inns to the navy service. Their bulldlnff also ope,,3 p the probability prob-ability for the Introduction of turbine machinery, ma-chinery, as the department In tho adver-t'aement adver-t'aement for bids announced that ulterna-tlvc- proposals for the insinuation of turbine tur-bine engines would rceVi. the department's depart-ment's consideration. In the meantime Iho bureau of steam engineering has been making a study of turbine systems end has been closely observing ail expi tl-rr.rnts tl-rr.rnts that have been conducted In that direction. The se-iut ships are to hi JS feet long with a breadth of forlv-rlx feet eight Inches and 8 draught Of Sixteen feet nine and a half Inches. The displacement nf speed trial la to be not more than rrr; b ns Provision in made for a total coal carrying capacity of nbout li tons Each will be provided with a battery of llo three-inch rapid-fire guns and two submerg" d torpedo tubes I'.mr rmidu-staojts rmidu-staojts will rise to a height of Bcvontv -two feet above the baso line. The maximum maxi-mum time allowed for completion of the vessels Is fixed at thirty-two months if teiiproe.-iting engines aro adopted and thirty-six months If tnrbincB aro adopted A total weight of about lh-i tons of nlckei steel will be employed In the construction tit each vessel for protective purposes Tho speed of tho new ve-ssels wlli be twenty-four knots. |