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own of 8-in. armor in positions as ele- vated as practicable on the upper deck without interfering with the after tur- rets firing 45 degrees forward of the beam and the forward turrets firing 45 degrees abaft the beam. Torpedo defense battery turrets might be plac- ed in positions corresponding to the 9.2-in. turrets of the Lord Nelson." The following resolution, express- ing the views of the conference on this. subject was passed by a vote of 43 to 7: "Resolved, That in view of the present knowledge concerning the construction and efficiency of turrets for torpedo defense guns, the confer- ence does not consider it desirable to mount such guns in turrets on the North Dakota or vessels of her de- sign." And the following resolution passed unanimously: 'Referring to par- agraph 2 of Commander Key's letter suggesting that torpedo defense guns be installed on the tops of the tur- rets of the most recent types of battle- ships: "Resolved, That this conference does not consider this disposition de- sirable, but the conference recom- mends that the general question of mounting torpedo defense guns be made the subject of special inquiry by the bureau of ordnance with the view of mounting them in higher and more commanding positions than is the case of the torpedo defense guns of the North Dakota, including the plans sug- gested by Commander Jayne and Commander Chase." Twelve-Inch Guns Less Powerful Than Those of Foreign Nations.--The resolution quoted below was present- ed by Commander Key as expressing his views on this subject: © "Resolved, The main battery guns to * 'be placed on board the North Dakota are inferior in power to guns now be- ing built abroad for ships of about the . same date of completion." This resolution was not adopted by the conference, but the following was passed instead by practically a unani- mous vote, there being only one op- posing: "Resolved, There is reason to be- lieve that the main battery guns to be Placed on board the North Dakota and Delaware are inferior in power to English guns now being built for Ships of like date of completion and this inferiority should be corrected in the Florida and Utah. English 50 cal., 12-in. guns." The following resolution bearing on the same subject was passed by a vote 'of 53 to 6: "Resolved, There is reason to be- lieve that the latest 12-in. guns afloat in the U. S. navy are equal to the lat- "'TAE. Marine REVIEW est 12-in. guns afloat in the English navy." In this connection it appears from the record of the conference that the information upon which the criticism was 'based as to the power of foreign guns was not considered to be abso- lutely authentic. The resolutions of the conference would indicate that Commander Key's criticism on _ this point was partially sustained. Location of No. 3 Turret Between the Engine Room and Boiler Room Undesirable and Unnecessary.--The resolutions of the conference: on this point are shown as follows: "Whereas, The magazine of No. 3 turret on the North Dakota is largely surrounded by sources of heat and a better location appears impracticable: "Resolved, That we approve of pro- vision for refrigeration of this mag- azine." The above was passed by a vote of 39: to 21. At the time this vote was passed experiments were already under way with a view to providing refrigeration 'for all magazines on the North Dakota class. The following resolution bearing on the same sub- ject was passed unanimously: "Resolved, That upon the statement of naval constructors and of the bureau. of construction and repair, the confer- ence does not regard it as practicable to lengthen the North Dakota type by 25 ft. with an increase of displacement of only 300 tons and to locate the three after turrets as indicated in par- agraph 4 of Commander Key's letter, echeloning them in the vertical plane." After further consideration of the same subject the following resolution was adopted almost unanimously, only two votes being registered against it: "Resolved, That from the informa- tion furnished this conference by the bureau of construction and repair and the naval constructors in attendance at this conference we believe it is im- practicable to make the changes in de- sign suggested by Commander Key in paragraph 4 of his letter within the limits as therein stated, but that we believe it is possible to make these changes withotit great increase in length and a great increase in displace- ment over that of the North Dakota as designed. The advocates of this change state that it would increase the, tactical efficiency of the ship and re- move the magazines of No. 3 turret from an undesirable location." The conference in considering the subject of the arrangement of turrets for the design of the new battle ships Florida and Utah passed the follow- ing resolution by a vote of 41 to 9: 27 "The conference recommends that the present arrangement of turrets of the North Dakota be adhered to in the Florida and Utah." From the above resolutions it will be seen clearly that Commander Key's criticism on the subject of the loca- tion of No. 3 turret guns was wholly unsustained by the conference. It is interesting to note in this con- nection that the British Indomitable has her magazines for the waist 12-in. turrets between her boiler rooms, and that the three Brazilian battleships of the Minas Geraes class of the Dread- nought type, now building in England, and which have recently come into considerable notice in connection with their reported sale by the Brazilian government to Japan, have a 12-in. turret situated between the engine and boiler rooms in a position exactly sim- ilar to turret in the North Dakota, the position of which is criticised by Com- mander. Key. It is clearly evident from this that the English designers of these Brazilian vessels have reached the same conclusion as to the location of this particular turret that was reached by the navy department offi- cials when the design of the North Dakota was prepared. __ - Height of Armor Belt.--In addition to the views expressed by Commander Key in his letter of June 9, the follow- ing resolution introduced by him as éxpressing concretely his views on the subject is quoted: ee. "Resolved that the lower edge of the main waterline armor belt should Be placed with": reference {0° tiay waterline at which tne ship is most likely to float when engaging in battle; "That this most probable fighting waterline is that at which the ship would. float with full supply of am- munition and two-thirds supply of stores and fuel on board; ' "That the lower edge of the water- line belt should be placed 5 ft. below the above mentioned line; "That for the foregoing reasons the lower edge of the waterline belt arm- or of the North Dakota is placed too low by about 20 in." - The conference did not adopt the resolution submitted by him but in- stead adopted the following resolu- tions by votes as given: "Resolved, That the lower edge of the main waterline.armor 'belt should be placed with reference to that waterline at which the ship is most likely to float when engaging in bat- tHe: - "That this most probable fighting waterline is that at which the ship would float with full supply of am-