New-York tribune., 1908-03-09
THE N4TIES OF THE POWERS.

Last weeks presumably groundess agitation
in England over the correspondence on naval
matters between the German Emperor and
the head of the British Admiralty and the
launching or Saturday of the first of Germany's
big new batteships. which are intended 10
match the British Dreadnought class. revive
keen interest in the naval programmes of the
mowers Recent dispatches have indicated I'M
certainty concerning the construction plans
Of Japan ana Russia. The governments of
both are earnestly desirous of increasing their
sea forces but both are suffering from finan-
ciaI stringencv The Japanese Parliament not
long ago accepted as inevitable a proposal for
suspension Of work for this year. Yet unof
fetal advices are to the effect that two enor
nous battleshipS are TO he begun this year.
besides al least one destroyer. The japanese
keep their own counsel so well and are so
sufficient unto themselves in material and
equipment for shipbulding that ii is difficult
to determine what is really going on at kure
and Yokosuka. If two ships are 10 be built
they will doubtless he of at least 21.o00 tons
each Last year the Satsuma. 1850 tons, was
completed and the Aki. 1890 tons. was
launched. four armOred cruisers of 1850 10
II 800 IONS were completed or launched, each
carving four 12-inch guns and making
twenty-five knots, and at least one of the
ships captured from Russia was made bet
ter than new As for Russia. We are now
told that the Minister of Marine says that
neither the billion dollar programme nor that
involving only S225 .000.0G0 can at present he
considered. Last year saw one armored cruiser
Of 1910 tons completed, and two battleshps
of l.. $40 tons and two Of 1900 tons completed
or launched the former TWO in the Black Sea,
and TWO of 1890 tons. ten 12-inch guns. and
twenty-one knots with turbines, projected
France will continue this year the programmc
begun in 1906 planning no big ships beyond the
six hatteships and four armored cruisers al
ready begun. Last year saw her complete
f0ur hattIeshlDs of Il. .S65 tons and begin or
continue work on six Of 5000 tons, and COM
nlete two armored cruisers of 12550 tons and
work OF three Of 1878 tons. Italy completed
two battleships of 12.425 tons and worked on
TWO more authorized one Of 5000 tons and
planned one Of $1,000 tons. and worked on five
armored cruisers of $3.50 tons each. Germany
completed two and nearly completed two more
battleships of l3.o40 tons. and began two Of
II $50 and two more of nearly, if not quite.
~ at0 tons One of the 7960-ton ships the
Nassau was launched Saturday. and though
details of her size and equipment are not fully
revealed she appears &c be almost exactly the
same size or of the same tonnage as the Brit
ish Dreadnousht. but 10 be little less heavily
armed carving ten 11-inCh instead Of ten II
inch gums. and her speed, only nineteen knots,
is two knots less than that OF the British ship.
III addition. Germany also completed last year
two arnored cruisers Of 11.420 tons, and be-
gan one OF ii T60 and one Of 1890 tons, be
sides completing launching or authorizing eight
protected cruisers OF frCm 3.33o TO 3.10o tons.
She reduced the age limit Of her bHttleships
from twenty-five 10 twenty years. Her pro
gramme COR 1his year is to lay down three bat
rcships and one urm0rcd cruiser and the same
FOR 1899 ana 1910. while in 1911 il will be two
battleshlns and two cruisers Great Brfnin
last year launched three battleships of 1860
tons and three armored cruisers Of 1890 tons
and one OF II GG0 TONS she carried almost TO
completion two hattleships of 5000 tons and
two armored cruisers of lf.Go0 ions; and she
Comnotcd and commissioned four armOred
..riIist.rs of 1:i50U tons IN addition she is com
mitted 70 the immediate buiidlng-laying down
before June 20 next-of three battleships of
1850 tons. For the future ber programme Is