The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-02-22
NAVY CAN NOW DOMI-
MATE THE
ORIENT
ARE FIFTH IN STRENGTH
Naval Construction in United
States is Slow.

trouble in the Orient, Japans navy /
will dominate the situation. That ma
ton now ranks fifth in naval strength. |
The other nations rank, Great Britain /
first. France second, Germany third |
and the United States fourth
The alliance between Japan and I
Great Britain combines the enor-
nous navy Of the latter with that of
the new and very efficient navy OF
Japan. Compared to the streaSth OF
the Japanese and British navy in
oriental waters, the dozen ships which
the United States has on the secene
would be of little or no use.
Some idea OF the naval strength
of Japan may bo had when il is
stated that Japan has now nine
first class battleships each of more
than 10000 tons displacement; nine
armored cruisers aggregating in ton
mage S1,372; twenty cruisers OF from
5000 to 10000 tons each; two cruisers
Of more than 5000 tons each and FIVE
large modern coast defense vessels,
with an aggregate tonnage of 29,657
In addition to these the Japanese navy
comprises twenty-four torpedo boat
destroyers. eighty-one torpedo boats
and nine submarine Under oonstruc-
ton, and soon to be completed, are
tweaiy-four more torpedo boat de-
stroyers. three first class battleships
having each a tonnage OF more than
14,0oO; three armored cruisers OF
14,O0O tons each and one cruiser OF
1920 tons.
! At the rate at which new ships are
being added to the Japanese navy, It
will not be long before that navy
approximates the strength of the navy
of the United States The total ton
mage of the navy of the United States
is now 3SS,519; that OF the Japanese
navy is 32113f Japan has near
ecmpletion shipa aggregating in ton
mage 106.74O. Many OF the ships in
the United States navy are OF the
antiquated, monitor type which would
be useles except for coast defense
purposes.
The United States navy now com
prises twelve frst-class battleships
twelve coast defense vessels, most Of
them useless monitors and small
sized battleships. six armored crui,
sers, three cruisers about 5000 tons
displacement, seventeen cruisers of
5000 to 5000 tons; twenty-four crui-
sers OF 5000 to 10000 tons, sixteen
torpedo boat destroyers. thirty tor
pedo boats, and eight Submarines
The principal part of the United
States navy Is in progress of con
struction. Owing to lax methods and
the policy OF having all war vessels
built by private contract, it has come
to pass that It requires three and
four years - build ships for the Unit
ed States navy, which would be built
in England in three or four months.
For example. there are thirteen first
class battleships. with an aggregate
tonnage of 10000 now under con
strcction. Other additions to the
United states navy in process OF be
ing built are six armored cruisers,
two armored cruisers above 5000
tons, three cruisers between 5000 and
1000 tons, two torpedo boats and lour
submarines.
If the vessels now under construc-
ton for the United States navy were
completed. the United states would
rank third in tonnage, instead Of rank
ing fourth, as Il present Germany
would then be inferior to the United
states.
Great Britain's navy exceeds in ton
mage that of any other two nations
Of the world combined It is true that
many OF the British vessels are more
or losa antiqated. but II Is also true
that the newest types and expert
ments in naval construction are those
to be seen in the British navy. The
recent spectacle presented In the
launching Of the Dreadnaught a ship
exceeding in size and offensive and
defensive armament anything in the
world. is an illustration. Counting
ships under construction, Englan6's
naval tonnage is 1.673,33s,
The total tonnage OF the French
navy at present is 6l9.675. that Of
the German navy 466,OS4, that of the
United States sss,5l9. that OF Japan
S2l. .lS1. that OF Italy 266,72s. that OF
Russia 244,GOl. that of Austria 1872
765.
TopAY's NEWS IN BRIEF.