The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-22
Great Britain Far Ahead in
Both Ships and
Tonnage.
JAPAN TRAILS
AFTER FRANCE
United States Building Program
More Ambitious Than En-
pire in Orient.
By John sNURE.

A-lle more the navy or the tllleA
States has come into the IimeIight by
reason Of the renewed discussion of the
japanese situation. While no one seri-
ously expects 70 see it employed, either
now or in the future, against Japan
3he conditions make some naval COM
PARSONS interesting.
The RussO-Japanese war taught prct-
~ fully that too much reliance cannot
Be put on paper comparisons OF navies.
StiI1 such are the comparisons en- which
naval men largely rely IN their reckon
ing Of the standing OF the various naval
powers.
As experts set il down on paper, the
United states is the second nation In
the world iu naval strength. As the
standing was November J last Great
Britain had a total of 49, ships of war,
OF ls1,1l6 tons; the United States had
178 vessels, with 40 46S tons; Germany
had 223 vessels with 693509 tons
Branee had sic vessels with S01,l tons,
and Japan had 179 vessels with 444903
tons.
French Tonnage.
1t is noticeable that in tonnage
France outstrips either this country or
Germany. but this is due TO the large
TONNAGE France has in vessels below
The rank Of battleships. France has no
less than 265 torpedo boats. or more than
any other nation.
These comparisons are made up on
this basis: BY the exclusion OF vessels
over twenty years old. unless they have
been reconstructed and rearmed since
1850; excluding vessels not actually be-
sun although authorized excluding
transports, golfers, repair ships tor
pedo-depot ships. converted merchant
vessels or yachts; vessels Of less than
1000 tons. except torpedo craft; ex-
slusive OF torpedo craft of less than 30
tons
It is in respecs of battleships and ar
unored cruisers that the best Judgment
OF the comparative strength OF the
worlds navies can be formed The
showing is as follows:
England Leads,
Great Britain, IS batueships Of $1,000
tons and IS almored cruisers of 45s, $50
tons
Unitsd states. q batueships of 405,14s
tons and i armored cruisers Of 157s445
tons
Germany. 2s bsttleships OF 354o5l tons
and 10 arrnored cruisers of 1883 tons
France, q battleships Of a37,55o tons
and q armored cruisers of Z20.ss3 tons
Japan, Is battleships OF l9l, 4sS tons and
Is armored cruisers of l8Sslo0 tons
only battIesbfps OF 10000 tons and over
are referred to iu these comparisons.
The American and the japanese battle
ships now in commission, though the
Iapanese are fewer IN number compare
quite closely in average tonnage, IN
speed and armament I'm respect of ar
mored cruisers the United states mas
much the best of IT,,
Japan has no armored cruisers that in
regard 70 all three qualities OF speed
size and armament can compare VAIN
such powerful and rapld-golng cruisers
as the Pennsylvania, the Maryland the
Colorado the West virginia, the Cali
fornia, the South Dakota TIE Iennes-
see. the Washington, the North caro-
Ina. and the Montana.
Twelve-inch Guns.
These range from 1850 tons TO 1850
tons, with speed Of - knots or over
They have no twelve-inch gains Japan's
Tsukuba and Ikoma, both armored
cruisers. have four twelve-incl guns
each. but have only Z1-knot speed,
against p on the part OF the American
cruisers named.
The United States has more power
fui building program than Japan. The
American vessels building are the Mich
lean and South Carolina. OF 5000 tons
OF 1900 tons each. and the Fl6-tda and
Utah OF q s25 tons each. These vessels
viii have from eight 20 ten tWeiTe-iuCh
guns. Their speed viii 10 high. about
Tweutv-one knots iu The case Of the four
largest vessels.
Japan's Program.
8apan's building program comprises
four great battIeships and four swift
and powerful armored cruisers. Were
al these veseess laid down. Japan's
program would be- equal TO or greater
shau that of the United States. but
sWo Of the battleships of 2LG50 tons
each. ere projected but not laid down.
and the same i5 true Of two of the cruis-
ere The building program Of the United
states. comprising six great ba ttleshiDE
includes vessels which are all laid down
In addition, the United States will
probably soon have under way two
monsters greater than any others in the
world, Of 5000 tons each. 10 is c1u-id-
cred certainty, OF certain 90 "a rca-
sOnable degree. that under present con-
GitiOus the President viii not Doe refused
the authorization Of TWO giant battle
ships