Plan 40,000-Ton Warship.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 12, 1913:
Navy to Ask Congress for Biggest Dreadnought Yet; Cost, $20,000,000
    WASHINGTON, May 11.— Congress will be asked next year to appropriate for one battleship — a mammoth dreadnought displacing 40,000 tons and costing about $20,000,000 — according to tentative plans of the Navy General Board, made public to-day. This year the Navy Department asked for three battleships and got one, as it did last year, when three were requested.
    In the debate on the naval bill this year members of Congress particularly interested in the navy became satisfied that, while there were two extreme factions, one advocating appropriations for two or three first-class battleships a year and the other with "no battleships" as a slogan, an overwhelming majority in both Houses could be counted upon to vote for a single dreadnought. This situation has been impressed upon the General Board, and as a result the permanent building programme may be revised on a one-dreadnought basis, with prevision for adequate colliers, destroyers, and other auxiliary craft.