Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-09
JAPANESE NAVAL STRENGTH
Twenty-Five ArmOred ships and
FOrty-seven Cruisers on
the Register.

TOXIC, March S.-some reliable figures
are now to hand showing the present
strength Of the japanese navy as compared
with its strength when the war broke out
Details are appended, but the totals may
be briefly stated, viz, 157 vessels Of all
descriptions representing a tonnage Of S3,-
742 tons before the war, and 2O4 vessels and
515,0S2 tons at the present day. Further
scrutiny Of the figures shows that Japan
today possesses more than twice the num-
Der Of battleships it had before the war a
third as many more armored cruisers, three
more other cruisers. nearly three times as
many destroyers, but three fewer torpedo
boats. It's naval losses during the war In
cluded two battleships, the Hatsuse and
Yasslma; eight cruisers, the Takasago, Yo-
shino, saiyom. Miyako, Heiyen, Atago,
Oshima and Kaimon; two destroyers, the
Akatsuki and Hayators; seven torpedo
boats: or a total of nineteen vessels and
49, GIG tons.
On the other hand, as against the two
5attleships, torpedoed by the Russians, the
Japanese bagged at Port Arthur and in the
battle of Japan sea, five battlesrips, repre-
senting 62,524 tons, i.e., the Orel now named
the Iwami; the Peresviet CSagamD, Poltava
| (Tango), Retvizan (Hzen) and Pobieda
| (Sue). In addition there were taken eleven
unarmored cruisers, 71,276 tons; five de-
stroyers, 1,74O tons a total Of twenty
one vessels, representing 135.54O tons. Thus
the net gain without further building on
Japan's part is seen to be two in number
and IS, 1924 in tonnage. the discrepancy be-
tween these divisions being due to the fact
that Japans chief gains were in battleships
and cruisers.
! Critics of the expansion program are
naturally asking why in the face of these
! figures, which indicate an advance of fully
| 80 per cent, including new constructions,
| the government should still persist in max
| ing appropriations for the army and navy
more than 80 per cent of the total national
expenditure for the next fiscal year Lead
ing financiers and business men do not
hesitate to point out that so long as the
above disparity is maintained the country
must expect to invite foreign distrust, while
forthcoming attempts to negotiate a new
loan are likely to encounter no small OPP
position and even II successful will prove
so anly at the cost of sacrifice OF pres
tige in the shape of some form of hypothe-
cation,
The following figures are given:
Strength when the " r commenced; Bat
eight, 1882 tons; other cruisers, forty
four, III. 40 tons; destroyers, nineteen, 6l5s
tons; torpedo boats, eighty 7119 tons; total
157 ships, 2S7. TAO tons.
Built during or since the war: Battleships
four, n, 500 tons, viz: The Bataria ,kashima
Aki and Satsuma, the last two of which are
now receiving their armaments. Armoret
cruisers, four, Sc, 100 tons. viz: The Tsukuba
Ikoma Kuruma and Ibuki, the last two o.
which are now receiving their ornaments
other cruisers, five, 1905 tons, viz Tht
Tone. Yodo, Mogami etc, all of which arr
under construction or receiving their arm
aments. Destroyers, thirty-three 1851
tons. Torpedo boats, five, $50 tons Total
fIfty-one vessels, 1889 tons.
| Present force Battleships 13, 191, ,3d tons
armored cruisers r. 130,6S3 tons; othe
cruisers a. 1866 252 tons; destroyers So, 20,50
tons; torpedo bots n 7,25S tons. Total, 20
ships; 5l5,OS2 tons.
The unarmored Russian cruisers cap
tured have been renamed as follows
Nikolai QkD. Bayan (Aso). Paliadi
eTsugaru). varyag (soya), Aplakin (okine
shima). seniavin CMishima), Novik (su
zuya), TO be used as one OF the training
squadron at Yokesuka; Majuria (Manshu)
Angara CAnegawa), Kazan C6anzakD an
Sungari (Matsuye)..
The five Russian destroyers captures
have been renamed as follows: Reshiteeln
CYamahilSo). Viedvi (satsukD, silnui (Fu
mizul). Gandamak (shirinamD and Vo
sadnik (Makigumo).