New-York tribune., 1906-08-13
GERMANY,S BATTLESHIPs.

One Of the leading naval powers which re-
organized their policy promptly when the
Dreadnought was launched last February is
Germany. She has been building two battle
ships year for several years. and decided that
the next authorized should be match for
the vessel now under construction at Ports
mouth The Tribunes London correspondent
declares that the Kaiser is not entirely salts
fled with the decision reached a few months
ago. and that the Ersatz Bayern and Ersatz
Sachsen will be bigger than the Dreadnought.
From other sources it is learned that these
ships will probably have a displacement of
10000 tons. instead of $4,000 (as originally
planned). and will mount sixteen 11-inch guns
The DreadnOughts main battery is TO consist
of ten 12-nch guns.
Great Britain will not, of course. be disturbed
by this news She has been setting the pace
for the rest of the world for years. and is under
no obligation TO limit herself in the future to
vessels like the Dreadnought. Nevertheless it
would be hard 10 predict the outcome of an en-
gagement between that particular ship and one
Of the kind which the Kaiser now has in his
minds eye. The DreadnOught is expected to
be the faster ship. She has been designed to
develop speed Of y knots. whereas the new
German battleships are intended TO develop
only 1872. The ship which maneuvre best
IN action has a great advantage over its ad-
the caibre of their guns. il might have an
appreriabe effect under certain conditions. Just
now everything is being sacrificed to long range
ana the range Of cannon is approximately
pr0portoned 10 its bore. If IT should prove that
the Dreadnougbt's guns could begin the work
OF destruction IA few minutes earlier than those
OF her enemy. that qualification might more
than Offset the ability 10 throw more hundred
weight Of metal minute
II Is not at all unlikely that Germany's dis
satisfaction with The plans adopted early in the
wear has been inspired less by what is being
done by Great Britain than by hints of what
other powers have in view. Admiral Dewey
told the House Committee on Naval Affairs four
or five months ago that he had reason 10 sus
pect that Japan had decided on 19OOOton
battleships. Besides. while Secretary Bonn
parties plans were not perfected at that time
it is no secret that the United States NAVY De
partment wanted the privilege of building a
warship Of greater size than any of which there
was then any assurance. Fortunately or I'M
fortunately. the Secretary could not secure the
authority to proceed quietly with the reaIiza-
tiOn Of that purpose but it is not TO be supposed
that the government in Berlin was kept in
ignorance regarding his intentions.
Germany is now taking an exceptionally long
stride in the development of her navy. She
doubtless realizes that in some respects she has
been backward. and is eager 10 make up for
lost time The United States has ready for ser
vice. if not actually in commission, five battle
ships displacing 1900 tons each. and having
speed Of 10 knots. Two vessels Of the Louisiana
class. displacing 10000 tons and developing n
speed Of Is knots, are virtually completed. and
four more are under construction. The biggest
ships now being built for Germany have dis
placement OF 1920 tons. The keels of two
were laid last year, two others were launched
in 1905, and one of that particular class (the
Deutschland) is now finished OF another
group, having a displacement of 1900 tons
exactly, four are ready for service If not in
commission, and fifth is rapidly approaching
completion. The older German battIeships are
comparable In size with those OF the classes to
which the Oregon, the Illinois and the Maine be-
long. Some Of them mount nothing larger than
9.4-inch guns, however. while the biggest guns
Oh American battleships invariably have IA
calibre OF - or l3 inches. Apparently there has
been room for Improvement in the weight of
Germany's naval ordnance well as in the
size Of her fighting ships. and il is by no means
certain that she has fully awakened to her