The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-03-19
FACTS ABOUT
JAPAN 5 NAVY
INTERESTING STATEMENT OF
THE MARINE STRENGTH OF
THE MIKADO.

TOXIC, March S.-Some reliable
figures are now to hand showing the
present strength of the Japanese Navy
compared with it's strength when the
war broke out. Details are appended
but the totals may be briefly stated
vix.: One hundred and fifty-seven
vessels of all descriptions, represent
ing a tonnage of 283,242 tons before
the war and 2O4 vessels and 515,0S2
tons at the present day. Further scru-
tiny of the figures show that Japan
today possesses more than twice the
number of battleships she had before
the war, third as many more armor-
ed cruisers. nearly three times as
many destroyers, but three fewer tor
pedo-boats.
Her naval losses during the war in
cluded two battleships, the Hatsusa
and Yashima, eight cruisers, the Ia
kashigo, Yoshino, Saiyom, Mikayo,
Heiyen. Atago, Oshima and Ramona,
two destroyers, the Akatsuh and Ha-
| gators, and seven torpedo-boats, on
total of nineteen vessels and 1855
| tons. On the other hand, as against
the two battleships torpedoed by the
Russians, the Japanese bagged at Port
| Arthur and in the battle of the Japan
sea five battleships, representing Co.
524 tons, i. e., the Orel, now named
the Iwami; the Peresviet (SagamD,
Poltava (Tango), Retvisan (Hizen),
and Pobieda (Sue). In addition there
were taken eleven unarmored cruis-
ersS471 ,276 tons), and five destroyers,
tetal of twenty-one vessels, repre-
senting 1876, $40 tons. Thus the net
gain without further building on ia
pans part is seen to be SS,924 in ton
mage the discrepancy between these
divisions being due to the fact that
Japan's chief gains were in battle
ships and cruisers.
Critics of the expansion programme
are naturally asking why, in the face
of these figures, which indicate an adj
vance of fully 80 per cent, which in
clude new construction, the Govern
ment should persist in making appro-
priations for the Army and Navy more
| than SO per cent of the total national
expenditure for the next fiscal year.
Leading financiers and business men
do not hesitate to point out that so
| long as the above disparity is main
tanned the country must expect to in
vite foreign distrust, while the forth
coming attempts to negotiate new
loan are likely to encounter no small
opposition, and even if successful will
prove so only at the cost of a sacri-
flee Of prestige in the shape of some
form of hypothecation.
The following figures are given:
Strength when the war commenced,
battleships, six, S4,652 tons; armored
cruisers, eight, 1882 tons; other
cruisers, forty-four 111,470 ton; de-
stroyers, nineteen, 6159 tons; torpedo
boats, eighty, 1899 tons. Total 157
ships, 2S3,742 tons.
Built during or since the war-Bat-
tleships, four 1880 tons; viz: the
Katori, Kashima, Aki and Satsuma,
the last two of which are receiving
their ornaments. Armored cruisers,
four, $1,000 tons; viz: the Tsukaba,
Ikoma, Kuruma and Ibuki, the last
two of which are now receiving their
ornaments. Other cruisers, five, 70O6
tons, viz: the Ton, Yodo, Mogami, etc,
all of which are under construction
or are receiving their ornaments.
Destroyers, thirty-three, 1858 tons.
Torpedo boats, five, 760 tons. Total,
fifty-one; 14S,569 tons.
Present force-Battleships IS, 49,
3S1 tons. Armored cruisers, ~, $780,
6S3 tons. Other cruisers, 47,165,25
tons Destroyers, fifty-five, 20,50S
tons. Torpedo boats, seventy-seven,
1858 tons. Total, 2O4 ships; 515,OS2
tons.
Fine Job PRINTING. Star Office.