The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-06
A COMPARISON OF NAVIES.

The newspapers are now discussing
in case that country should undertake
to go to war with the United States
with or without the help of Spain. The
navy Of this country is not great when
compared with Great Britain, and not
by any means equal to that of France,
Germany Or Russia. 1t is much strong
er now than six years ago, but is too
small for a country Of such popula-
ton and extent of coast line as our
own. When a London paper gravely
discusses the superiority of the navy
of a power Of the kline that Japan is
it shows gross ignorance. It is time
hat the United States had added a
dozen great ships to it's navy. Our
country is ~expending annually more
honey on navy, army and pensions
than Russia and Germany both ex-
pend on their navies and great armies.
Let some of the more than a half bill
ion dollars spent each yea go into
building great ships for defence, for
protection Of American interests. 1t is
time the navy vas made respectable
among the great navies, so hat every
little third rate power may not talk
of licking Uncle Sam if he does not
behave himself we'll and keep we'll at
home.
We take it for granted that Japan is
not deceived as to the strength of the
American navy: We hope Spain is not
~misinformed or misled by the British
underestimate of our strength on the
sea. The New York Journal gives need
ed information at this point. We
quote:
"AH authorities agree that the back
bone Of a navy is its ba~ttleships. OF
these we have in commission four of
the first calss n two of the second
class. Japan has two Of the first class,
both in English water, and therefore
neither available for immediate service
in the Pacific, and one of the second
class. We have fifteen modern ar
mored vessels in all, aggregating 1OO,971
tons, not counting our old monitors or
our new battleships under construction.
Japan has eight, old and new, of As, 26S
tons in all. In vessels of other classes
the ~disproportion is as great. Japan
has no first class cruisers, armored or
Misunderstanding corresponding to
the Brooklyn, the New York, the Min
neapolis or the Columbia-and no pow
erfu1 coast defense ships like the Puri-
ton, the Monterey, the Monadnock. the
Miantonomoh, the Amphitrite and the
Terror. The American Pacific and
Asiatic squadrons alone could easily
handl the entire japanese navy, aside
from the two new battleships that
nave not yet left England. Not count
ing those two ships, the Japanese have
an armored tonnage Of only 1858,
mostly feeble, while the Oregon, the
Monterey, the Monadnock and the Co.
manche of our Pacific squadron, three
of which are modern and powerful YES
sells, aggregate 90, 233 tons. It is hard
1y asserting too much to say thai the
Oregon alone would be a match for the
entire Japanese armored fleet now in
the Pacific"
We do not hin any intelligent, con-
sentative Americans desire war with
any country-Spain, Japan, England or
any other. Many who try to get rich
in war times are the only class we can
suppose being eager for a foreign war.
It is altogether proper however, that
this country with it's vast seacoast
should put its seaports on a war foot