Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-27
7HE NAVIES
OF RUSSIA
AND JAPAN
Comparison of the Fleets of the Two
Nations, as to Numbers MOdernness
Armament and Fighting Qualities
Japan Has Considerably the Best of It

The strained diplomatic relations
Nbtween Russia and Japan, and the
Act that in the event of a conflict
Ae issue would be determined more
ian anything else by the command of
Ae sea, render a comparison of the
Hective naval strength of the two
htions matter of no little interest.
b such a comparison the important
hct must never be lost sight of, that
81 the event Of war, only part of the
Russian navy can be available in the
tar East, whereas the whole of the
japanese navy. will be within the
phere Of active operations. However,
e will first summarize the strength
b the two fleets in toto, regardless
b whether the Russian ships are in
European or Asiatic waters; and then
e will consider the question of the
telative strength of the whole Japan
Sse navy and that part of the Russian
aayy that is, or may be concentrated
b the Pacific. The total effective
Dghting force of the Russian navy,
Excluding obsolete ships or ships Of
Doubtful utility, is made up OF fifty
Fessels (battleships, cruisers, and
sunboats) of an aggregate displace-
nent of 35s,67O tons; that Of Japan
consists of thirty-three ships, with a
total displacement of 20S,24O tons.
These two navies are composed Of
the following classes of ships: OF
Of the first class, that is
vessels launched within the past de-
oade Russia has ten, of an average
displacement OF 1890 tons; Japan
has six, OF an average displacement
Of 14116 tons. OF second class bat
tleships, launched between 1886 and
1896, Russia has ten, OF an average
Of 9,545 tons; Japan has
no second class battleships. OF third
class bnttleships, suitable for coast
defense, Russia has three, Of 4,126
tons displacement, and japan one, OF
I 1920 tons OF frstclass armored
cruisers, Russia has Ave, OF an aver
ago displacement of 10,26O tons, and
Japan eight, OF 9,210 tons. or second
class cruisers, that is, protected crui-
sers of larger size, Russia has about
nine, OF 6,425 tons displacement, and
Japan eight, OF about $500 tons aver
age displacement. OF third-class crui-
sers, Russia has four, OF about $500
tons displacement, and japan eight,
Of an average OF 1870 tons. Lastly
Russia has nine gunboats of 500 tons,
and Japan two, of s75 tons. It will
thus be seen that in point Of num-
bers Russia has a large preponder-
ance in vessels available for immedi-
ate hostilities. Indeed, she may fairly
be considered to rank as the third
naval power, coming next 10 France,
With Germany close rival.
On the other hand, a considerable
OF her fleet consists of
,oast defense vessels and ships that
ire too slow or otherwise deficient TO
,e available for duty in the far East;
md since the war must inevitably
'e fought out in the Pacific, a fore
.ast Of the probable fortunes of war
'hould take account only of that por-
ion of the navy that can be conesn-
rated near the seat OF war Apply
Ag this test, the Russian feet is cut
lown to thirty-one battleships and
Tuisers. of an aggregate displace-
nent Of a little over 100000 tons.