National Affairs: 34.5 Knots

Forty-miles-per-hour seems no great speed in an automobile. In an airplane it would be almost standing still. For a motor launch it would be a very respectable commuting pace. For the longest of U. S. warships, for 32.500 tons of fighting steel, guns, seadogs, explosives and seaplanes, it was record-breaking. Thirty-four-point-five knots—approximately 40 m. p. h.—and a world’s record for power, were what the U. S. aircraft-carrier Lexington made in trials off San Pedro, Calif., last week. Her turbines turned up 210,000 horsepower.

The Lexington’s sistership Saratoga, went 33.2 knots, last June, while still lacking some of her turbine-blading. The fastest U. S. dreadnaught has made 22.08 knots. The world’s record for naval or commercial ships of all classes, 43-75 knots, was set just after the War by the U. S. destroyer Cole.