The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-10
AMERICAN NAVY IS
 GROWING RAPIDLY Now Ranks Third Among the
 Worlds Sea Powers MAY SOON BE SECOND
Important Confidential Statement Is Placed in Hands of Secretary Metcalf by Office of Ma
 val intelligence.
From tho Brooklyn Eagle.


 An important confidential statement has
 Leen prepared for Secretary Metcalf by
 the office of naval intelligence, showing the sea strength of the leading eight
 powers of the world as it will be on June
 l, 1907. The statement shows that while | the United States ranks third among l the naval powers, only one nation, Great
 Britain, is stronger in line of battle ships
 There Is little to choose between the rela- | that of Germany.
 l Secretary Metcalf believes that the ta- bles just presented to him are the most reliable that have ever been compiled on | this subject. The experts have thrown out all the obsolete fighting ships and and numerous colliers, transports, repair l ships and converted cruisers which repre- sent no real strength, but are usually carried on the naval list in order to make an impressive showing No warships more than twenty years old are included
 in the statement unless they have been
 reconstructed and rearmed since 190o Yes
 sels of less than 1000 tons, except torpedo
 crafts, are also excluded.
 Great Britain of course maintains her
 supremacy.
 The policy of England is to have a navy
 equal to the strength of the next stronS-
 est two nations. England's fleet com
 prises a mighty array of 52 battle ships,
 32 armored cruisers and 94 protected
 cruisers of more than 10o0 tons displace-
 ment each. She has building eight battle cbi md oiy Tn aI1i.
 ton, England has an imposing fleet of torpedo boats, destroyers and submarines. It was only a few years ago that the United States ranked fifth among the
 worlds sea powers. Today we are third,
 with constantly narrowing margin or
 difference between us and France, which Is next to England.
 In estimating the sea strength of
 country, naval experts give 90 pen cent
 weight to line of battle ships Consider ing the three types, battle ships, armored cruisers and steel protected cruisers, 1t would seem that there is little choice
 between the United States navy and that
 of France. The latter has S3 vessels of
 these three classes, either built or build ing, and the United States has S7. France now has in commission IS battle ships
 20 armored cruisers and 31 protected cruisers The United States has 2l battle ships armored cruisers and 43 protected cruisers.
 There is very little difference, also, in the relative strength of the uncompleted vessels of the two countries. France has
 under construction ten battle ships and four armored cruisers; the United States has eight battle ships. four armored cruisers and three protected cruisers. The United States holds it's lead over Germany by the slenderest possible mar gin In fact, there Is little to choose be- tween them, and German authorities do
 not concede the inferiority of their fleet The United States has completed 21 bat tie ships, armored cruisers, 43 protected cruisers 16 destroyers submarines and Il coast defense vessels. It will be seen l from these figures that the naval strength 1 of the two nations is very evenly matched. Germany has a continuing shipbuildinS | policy, authorized by the reichstag, ana extending to the year 1911. This authori- l ation provides for the building Of Is bat | tie ships, 13 armored cruisers, 8 smaller | cruisers and IA torpedo vessels. If the | record Is to be equaled by our navy. con- l gress must provide at least three pattie ! ships every two years.
 American naval officers are paying more attention to the sea strength Of Japan l than of any other nation just now. our l officers used to think that our next war
 would be with Germany. but now they be- | lieve that Japan is the nation whose
 strength we will some day be called upon 1 to test.
 l Japans fleet does not look very formid- | able on the statement prepared by the | office of naval intelligence. According to these tables the mikado now has II battle
 ships 10 armored cruisers and 19 protected cruisers, with 3 battle ships. armored | cruisers and l protected cruiser under
 construction. Japan has perfect swarm | of torpedo boats and torpedo boat des- troyers, the vicious fighting machines | which played so important a part in tho l annihilation of the Russian fleet in the | sea of Japan.
 The mikado has 54 destroyers. 77 tor | pedo boats and submarines. Just now Japan is recovering from the financial