The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-30
JAPAN BUILDING WARSHIPS.
Shirt OF Nippon shown I'm the Activity In
Shlpyards.
Frot b ockl1ood's Md0d rine

From II OckHOOd = MdDd fihf'
Nowhere bnrhaps Is the effect upon Japan
of the recon war more patent than In her
great naval yards. nowhere does the magni-
tude of her ambitions find more cogent dem
onstration.
The posseSsors Of an island empire. the
statesmen OF Japan have not been slow TO
recognize the value Of a strong navy and a
powerful and numerous mercantile marine.
Under a system OF s"hipbuilding and ship
running boutties her merchant shipping
has made huge strides. and the advocates
Of state aid may point to the successful trans
port ion of troops in time of war in justihca-
ton of their policy.
During the late war a single company.
the Nippon i0Hen Kaishu. vas abie 10 place
at the disposal of the Government 2j0.0O0
tons Of shipping, with which IL success
fully carried TO and from the seat of war
upward of $4,000 men. $4,000 horses and
close upon 1000 900 tons of stores,
Under the same paternal encouragement
the displacement OF the steamer OF her
mercantile mTiue aggregated by April
last 05I, 900 tons an increase in less than
three years of rs ships, with Il displacement
OF 2uS. 7s1 tons.
striking a. ar these figures. and loud
- IS the tale OF the destructive competition
e. Japanese bottoms in Chinese waters.
the 1alc Of the great naval arsenals and dock
NHllN II fN'h liNl' - t'f-
Kura is little less than>a revelation.
Armed with an official permit, which read
"Kurl arsenal and dockyards. except the
armor works." | gained immediate admit
lance from the sentinel on guard. The first
glance tells you that you are in the presence
of a spirit Of imperious energy and indomt-
table will, You are brought abruptly face
IN face with one OF the startling contrasts
of the East. =,
Ont side the wall fragile houses, Old World
courtesy, laughing children. sleepy temples,
leisurely priests and smiling women all
the recognized Ingredients OF quaint, fan
tastic, orthodox japan. Inside the clash ana
clanC of iron upon steel, the roar OF machin-
cry and the hiss Of steam al the bewildering
equipment for the forging of engines de-
signed for the destruction of human life. vast
piles OF ugly ~scanoldlng' tolhng maseee anu
a Ten hour day.
Eleven wears go The naval va rds al Kur6
came into existence. the offspring Of the war
with China. to-day they provide employment
for 1000 men and are capable OF building
battleships the equal Of any now ahoat.
They are complete and self-suficipg In every
detail. They turn out eyergthtns CONNECTED
with the construction OF patllesnlps' from
=" prior 10 the late war nothing bigger tina y
a third class cruiser o. S'ooo OF a,UoI Ion hao
netus 10 Japanese naval construction, and In
January, 1905, the keel Of the first large cruiser,
Inc Tsikuba. was-4aid down. To-day saw
I her all but completed N her dock at kure, .
noyerful first class cruiser OF, 1880 tons. A
, little way on lay her sister ship the lkoma,
though not quite 20. far advanced.
Ruf .Iapanese ambition has not stopped
here Two vast battleships. the SatsumR and
The kkI, are now under construction az ioko-
snka and Kure respectively. Not, even the
Dreadnoncht, the --latest pet Of the British
7 navy will boast superiority to these monster
engines OF war, witt, a displncement n TO-
90 tons, a speed Of 49, Knots and an offensive
aru,nrneut OF four ~ inch and twelve 10 inch
guns. they will meet with but few equals upon
the s"a.
Zoo, during the last two years has Derhaps
moi hcen generally appreciated In England,
The following ia a list Of the larger vessels
Actually under construction IN Japanese
wards at the present time;
''N Tons.
The y, 0rst class bsulcshIps -..... 1900
wv IL. M