The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
As would be the case were vessels
building now completed.

gCns IN q turret idea Is entirely given up
as unsatisfactory. which reduces the nun
ber OF guns 70 twelve. OF possibly only
The two hrst of the Nassau class are Of
ls,l0 tons the two next OF about 1900
tons. but with the same armor and ar
mament The ships 20 be built under the
ls-' programme are probably sisters 20
these last
OI me new a-mored cruisers. the cruis-
er F. IS now understood 20 carry but
eight. OF possibly 9, u-inch. she Is OF
practically the same dimensions as the
British lnvincihles. II Is stu only posi-
bic 70 give conJecJuraI designs OF. her.
The Blucher Is row reported 10 have
ten-N2-inch guns. which. her displace-
ment being under 1900 tons, is far mors
probable than the heavier ornaments
hitherto assigned % her. Between the p
inch. 20 callber OF the InvfncibIes ana the
German u-inch 80 calIbers there Is no
very great difference 81 weight. not more
than SIX tons per gun at the outside
/ Seven u-inch German guns would weigh
as much as six pinch. IS calIber British
ones, or rather more than that
The small German cruisers tend 10 be-
come faster annually. They have now
reached scout speeds" and, being cor
sieerably better armed. must De REGARDED
as distinctly superior 10 the ordinary
scout German 6estrOyers are following
the usual tendency 10 increased size and
armament. but they do not present any
novel features.
or the submarines on which Germany IS
elnbarEng comparatively little Is known.
From the excellence OF the Russian boats
putt az KruPp'E Germsnia Yard. the as
sumption iE that the German boats VIII
De at least equally efficient. The main
cefect appears 70 be too small a radius
Two in Third Place.
Japan and Germany now both occupy
the third place among the naval powers.
On paper Japan. perhaps. occupies almost
/ the better position on account OF all the
ex-RUssisn battle ships that she owns.
Outside and apart from these ships, how
ever, the japanese feet IS now very con
siderable IN the most powerful types o;
units The Satsuua, Of the new Dread
nought type. was completed during 1893
as were most OF the armored cruisers of
equal dsIe-
I Considerable prog -ss has been made on
Japan's other big DTeadnOughts. the alzi.
and two ships. the first OF a new series.
are wei advanced. Four others ara no
Z 1ected. but none OF them appears 10 be Yet
I in hand The number OF big a~uorad
] cruisers 70 be built IS rather indefinite Il
I is doubtful whether more than one IS. ac-
rually in hand
one OF the most interesting Develop
ments OF the recent past f. the advent q
Dreaonoughts among the Northern Euro
/ pesn coast defense" navies. OF these
7 navies, that of Sweden Is probably equal
/ 70 The Russian ships as they now stand.
1 Under the new programmes Sweden. Nor
I way, and Holland all project OF. are be
/ ginning 20 build Dreadnoughrs OF ooue-
I quite equal 20 the best battle shlps Sc.
I anoat BY any nation a Few years ago.
I Supposing Sweden 20 build these as in
I custriousiy as she has built her coast
/ defense battle ships IN the past. it wiz
I not be long before this country becomes
+ an extremely important factor IN the Bal
I nc, especially II the event OF Norwav CO.
/ operating. as might vel be the case IN
I matters involving general SCANDINAVIAN
! interests.
4 In the South American nRvies mona os
7 the ambitious programmes OF last vea-
\ nave YET borne fruit except the Brazilian
/ These carry twelve Pinch and 81 ara
I considerably superior 10 The Dreadnorerts
"a gunnre, but the protection given is dis
/ tincJly less
4 In varying degree with each OF the
smaller navies. the standards OF val-e
which apply 20 the great navies are hard
7 " applicable, the value OF any war shr1
being governed BY IFS probable antar-
I oEists.