Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-22
POWERS BUILDING
Big BA7TLESHIPS
United States and Britain Lead
Ing in Construction Of the
Mailed Leyiathans.
MODERATE SIZE IS FAVORED

LONDON. Jan. 2l-As one of the
most notable features in The progress
ofnaval construction is the Continued
growth in the size Of Dattleships and
arm0rcd cruisers it is intcreStin. to
tern to the new edition just published.
OF MIR. F. r. James volume "All the
Worlds Fighting Ships in which he
mas embodied the classification of the
wa:ships Of tic world
SO the big class Of Dattlcships ne has
assigned the lassitication AL II is
q Significant fact that among the first.
class powers ltaly- Germany and Aus.
'li2 hungary are not represented in
LIS class. but the ether chief powers
have 2 number Of these mailed lcvia-
thans on hand. The United States and
freat Britain are leading in the "A1'
b2tilcships. Mr. Jane points out there
are at present III course Of cOnstrut.-
tcn Cor Great Britain ten. France
eleven. Russia six. United States
eleven and Japan two, and at the very
lowest estimate these battleships will
have swallowed up CGO0o0.O0O tS300..
oOC,o"o) Ivy the time they are con-
pletcd
Now, it is said. designs have been
prepared ~ Mr. Philip Watts for new
hattleships bigger and mere powerful
and more costly. Vet there is g cor.
siderable body Of opinion against this
policy Of putting so many eggs in one
,aske:
Among their opponents may be mon
toned Admiral Sir F. r. Fremantlc.
Admiral Sir John John Hopkins ana
Sir Edward Reed. former director of
naval construction.
In the current issue Of the United
Service Magazine is an article by Ad-
miral Frcmantle in which he urges tho
need OF battleshiEs Of moderate dmen-
siuns with as much force as possible.
lie writes: We have rot good value.
1nr our money in the increased speed
and armament. nor do doubt that 4
1e" powerful vessels CT the Lord Mel
son class are needed. We must admir-
that they would he awkward customers
totacklc in general engagement with
their armament Of four l2-incn and len
'2-lnch guns. while | feel sure these
last specimens OF Mr.. Philip Watts
genius will nc we'll adapted 10 aid l3ri
tann1a to rule the waves in blue water.
Bul this. il seems to me-. is tho he
ginning OF tho question ard is to as
sumo tEat The strategy CT the enemy
VIII naturally be to come cut in the
oFcE and fight us at sea II assumes
leo that these large vessels are b,1-
llcsnlpS which arc required for All rur-
poses; but is this the case? Aud might
not ships Of greater speed ard less
draIght OF water be more efficient in
many circumstances than these heavy
ships while they would certainly he
cheapcr u: Nelson's words. two .l's
alongside are better than one three
decker a long way off.
Il should certainly prefer Il. see ,hn
majority Of our hattlcships Of $4,000
70 1000 tons and only q few vessels
say Sin or eight should he King Ed
ward Wis Or Lord Nelson's"
Admiral ircmantle supports his
views OF stra,cSical ana tactical
2rcu'!dS ;inG by appeal TO history
Ks t. cost, he points on, that for
flrea Lord Nelson's the nation could
probably have four ships; Of l.; 900 Il,
$4,000 tons Of twenty knots speed coed
protection and armament and a, least
as powerful IS the newest German bat.
'lcsbips.