The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-07-05
OURS RANKS THIRD
The Naval Force Of America and
Japan Compared.
While Japan's Rank Fifth.-Amcri.
can Military officers Speculate on
the Outcome OF War

the Outcome OF War
| When the president left town last
week 1t was not reasonable to ex-
pect that Washington would be dull,
but the war scare came along at an
! opportune time. There isn't any
doubt that a great deal more has
been made Of this little misunder-
standing with Japan than the situa-
tion has really justified; but then
washington is full Of eager newspa-
per correspondents and it Is also full
Of army and navy officers, men whose
hope of early advancement in their
profession of arms is conflict with
mess, this sitting down In piping
times Of peace waiting for older Off
GERS to die off or be retired. 1t Is a
long time between promotions, and
the inactivity is killing to men who
are young and ambitious and thirst
for martial glory.
1t is no wonder, then, that every
time the United States has a diplo-
matte misunderstanding with some
other government Washington talks
war. If army and navy officers had
their way all our ambassadors and
ministers would be recalled and diplo
macy relagated to the limbo Of for
gotten things. The sword would be
tho only arbitor, the drum would
beat, the bugle call, and the land be
gay with the panoply of war. But,
fortunately for the country, 1t is not
tho nations warriors who are charg-
ed with responsibility; and the
chances that we shall have to fight
the Mikado's yellow men are remote
indeed
But regardless Of the improbable
ity of rupture between the two ma
tions, military officers are already
speculating quietly upon the possi-
bility of an estrangement, and com
parrisons are being made of the re-
spective strength Of the ~navies of
the two countries. In their minds
they have begun to dispose Of the
American navy in places where the
most effective results could be OBJ
tanned. TO be sure, officers of re-
sponsibility studiOusly refrain from
discussing matter of this kind,
knowing that it is the desire of the
administration not to accentuate an
already acute situation. But their
commendable reserve in this respect,
others, from examining the naval re-
cords of the worlds powers and as
certaining the fighting strength OF
the Japanese navy as compared with
our own.
The following table shows how the
two nations stand in naval equip
ment:
Tyne of vessels. U, S. Japan.
battlesh1ps. ..21 IL
Armored cruisers :. :. 8 1OI
Protected cruisers. ..43 19|
Torpedo boats. :. ..32 ri
Destroyers. :. :. ..16 Sd
Submarines. :. :. :. s ri
Coast defense. III 3
The number of vessels to be built
under existing appropriations by
each nation is as follows:
Type Of vessels. u. Japan.
Battleships. ;. :. s 8
Armored cruisers :. :. 4
Protected cruisers. :. 3 Il
Destroyers. :. :. :. 5 -
Submarines. :. :. :. -
Compared with other nations of
the world. the navy of the United
States ranks third and Japan's fifth.
Most of the Japanese ships are in
home waters, the same being true Of
those OF the United States. The pick
OF our navy is now at Hampton
Roads, or the vicinity, nineteen of
the battleships and armored cruisers
being rendeZvouSed there on account
or the jamestown exposition in addi-
tion to large torpedo and subma-
rine flotila.