The Washington times., 1902-07-29
LARGE SUMS SPENT
ON WORLDS NAVIES
Powers Feverishly Active
for Supremacy,
ENGLISH FLEET IN THE LEAD
Said to Be Double That Of ANY Other
Country-Urited States Third in the
Race, Equal to Germany and Russia
France Takes Second.

kaCe, EQuai TO germany ana RuSSla-
France Takes Second
Reports received by the Navy Depart
ment indicate that the powers of the
wCrld are actively increasing their naval
! forces to an unusual degree. In this
movement Great Britain takes the lsad
by wide margin. with France second
and GERMANY and Russia tieing with the
United States for the succession. ~
Great Britain is stronger. according
to expert opinion, than France and Rus
sia combined. with plenty of leeway.
America Equal to Germany.
The position Of the United States, ac-
cordirg to foreign estimates. should now
be as near France as that Of either Ger
many or Russia. which have both made
great strides OF late years toward the cx-
pansion of their navies. What each gov
eTnment is doing toward increasing her
navy Is shown by the official records, as
follows:
Frances naval program of increase
continues the second largest eXtant, and
Is tGllGStu bllN bH tLdl VI NfAtdt Il IL
ain. AS the second ranking naval power
France will probably continue to be the
second mistress of the seas for many
years. although. according to Lord Gras
sey, she is not making the advance that
her position calls for. At present she has
building three great battleships, each of
1855 tons displacement; and three OF
the same type of over 1900 tons die
placement.
France a Good Second.
Frances power, however, lies in her
armored cruisers, of which class she has
under construction a number almost as
great as that of Great Britain. Five OF
this class are of -, $50 tons, one of over
II geo tons. five of 1904 tons, and six
ranging down TO 1900 tons. She has also
two protected cruisers under construc-
tion. twenty-four destroyers of 1903 tons
each and about fifty other torpedo boat
craft of less than 100 tons.
The French program contemplates
that thirty-seyen vessels will be laid
down during the present year. These
are to be four battleships OF 1866 tons.
two armored cruisers of 12,550 tons, two
destroyers each of 303 tons, sixteen
first-class torpedo boats, and thirteen
present year there will be under con-
struction in all for the Frencn navy llS
vessels.
Germany Going Ahead Fast.
Germany is following Il program Of |
increase agreed upon some years ago, |
and designed to place her ahead OF Rus
STA and the United States in amount OF |
tonnage completed Her lighting ships
building now comprise four :3.O0D-tcn
battleslips. five l5,OOO-ton vessels cf the
same class. and two OF 1l,130 tons. Four
armored cruisers OF heavy displacement
and dozen protected cruisers are also
a part OF her increase plan. Germany
is also building a number OF gunbOats
and torpedo beats. Germany's navy mas
made very rapid progress and is Great
ing large means for future extension
The Emperor seems to be accomplishing
his purpose and lifting his country to
4 notable place among the maritime
powers.
When it comes to Great B-itain's stu
pendcus plan OF naval increase. that of
all other nations looks small in com
pa:ison. Great Britain. to maintain
naval force equal to that OF any two
other naval nations combined is forced
TO cXpend millions OF pounds annually
on new ships. and from her present
list of increase Il is easy to see that t
she must continue for years to be more ,
powerful! on the ocean than any two ,
other countries combined. Three bat
tleshlpS of 1880 tons, two of Is 600
tons, six OF 1900 tons. and three moro ;
recent ships OF 1900 tons comprise her {
great feet of battleships now under ,
EnorarI1c Wat A.. ls
OF the armored cruiser class Great !
Britain is building the enormous num- :
Der of twenty-four, ranging from l4lOO
tons displacement down to $500 tons.
These vessels are of the highest type .
and some of Great Britain's most pow !
ertul ships. OF the protected cruiser {
class she is building only six and OF the n
sunhoat class a score or more, while =
her torpedo boat increase is limited TO
half . dozen and her submarine boats Il
10 about the same number. OF the lat /
ter class the British service is yet in an :
-xperimental stage. and cares little for a
them. =
comparison of the strength OF the :
Britain has 90 battlesliips completed TO
Il for France and Russia. or IL first =
class battleships built and building. as :
against rs for Russia and France. I,
Italy Now Very Active. t
After many years OF inactivity in ma q
val matters Italy has begun to revive .
her naval efficiency on the seas, and has d
now building seven 1rst-class battle Il
ships of modern design and carrying
heavy batteries. She is also building a
large armored cruiser and 4 number OF
,ther class Of war vessels.
Japans naval strength is growing rap !
idly, and includes now under construe-
lion first-class battieship and a large
number Of cruisers and torpedo boat
craft a new program Of naval expan- y
sion recently agreed to provides for four 7
of $1,000 tons each and two
armored cruisers OF $500 each, and a d
number of smaller cruisers. i
Russia Is building five 120O0-ton bat n
.leships, five of II. .516 tons. and seven :
varying from 1900 tons to 5000 tons. v
IN addition there are thirty cruisers OF
vessels, including a large y
ieet of torpedo boats. G
Smaller Nations Catching Fever. r
Spain is beginning to show signs Of
some naval activity, and may soon be-
gin to revive some of her naval glory.
Il has been recommended by a special
Joard appointed by the Queen Regent ',