New-York tribune., 1910-12-01
NAVAL STRENGTH OF
THE GREAT POWERS
Germany Gains Rapidly on
Great Britain and
United States.
DREADNOUGHTS TO STAY
America Still Second in Ton
mage, but Not in Force-Sud-
den Reawakening of Ac-
tivity in Japan.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

" NaShington. Nov. 3O.-Germany has
made a decided gain in naval strength
over the United States in the last year.
and while the American navy still stands
second in tonnage af1oat the Germans
have completely outdistanced it in the
matter of building The German navy
has also made a decided stride toward
equality with the British navy, although
from Germany last winter and spring led
them to adopt urgent measures, and sew
eral contingency" vessels of heavy dis
placement are under way as the result
While the United States navy still
stands second in tonnage af1oat, accord
ing to the annual statement of warshp
tonnage and sea strength of the eight
principal powers as prepared to-day bv
the naval intelligence office of the Navy
Department it is believed by many ex-
perts that she already has been eclipsed
by Germany in the actual strength OF
ships in commission. The statistics as
to Germany deal only with vessels in
commission or in reserve, while a num-
Der of ships that are entirely out of COM
mission and are regarded as obsolete are
included in the American statistics
On the face of the statement Germany
has made a notable gain on the United
States in tonnage af1oat as we'll as in
ships under construction. On Decem-
Der /. 1909, the United States was cred
tied with 1906 tons more warship dis
placement than Germany. This year. on
tons afioat than Germany. In the mat
ter of tonnage under construction Ger
many was only 1.677 tons ahead of the
United States a year ago to-day, while
to-day she is 191. $50 tons ahead. The
proportionate gain of Germany on Great
Britain in both tonnage af1oat and under
construction has been practically as
great as that on the United States.
Japan Has Great Programme.
Among the many interesting surprises
to naval officials, as disclosed by this
compilation, made under the supervision
OF Captain T. NJ. Potts, is that Japan,
which is supposed to have made such
a determined squirt in the upbuilding of
her navy in and following the Japanese
American war scare two and three years
ago. has really accomplished little or
nothing in the last year. Her gain in
tonnage afloat is so small as to indicate
that actually the navy has dropped back
slightly. Japan has lost in the matter
Of tonnage under construction.
In nota BILE contrast to her year of in
activity. Japan has now suddenly awak-
ened again, and now efforts are being
made to get through monster pro-
gramme, even larger than that OF Ger
many. to obtain one or two battleships
of 2700O tons, mounting fourteen-inch
guns, and to have other battleships and
cruisers which were authorized last year
enlarged by several thousand tons.
Japan is understood only recently to
have secretly made contracts in Eng
land for the first of the 27.00O-t ton ships.
the plans for which call for the mount
ing of ten fourteen-inch guns, TO be
built by the krupps.
France remains in fourth place next
below the United States. but she has
lent of two Dreadnoughts and some
smaller boats. while she has gained
practically nothing in building Russia
gained little afioat and lost as much in
building as France did af1oat Italy is
in seventh place and Austria last
Meanwhile the United States has NOT
been doing so much as was expected of
her. While Germany gained nearly 20
per cent in total tonnage and Great
Britain slightly over II per cent. the
United States has gained little over ) per
cent. While the United States has put
nearly $4,000 tons In service In the last
year, it has actually gained only 81 900
tons, the difference being made by a
large number of old vessels being thrown
into the junk heap or sold. The policy
of getting rid of the worthless vessels
was adopted by Secretary Meyer last
spring. in order to assist in his economy
programme.
All Powers Building Dreadnouahts
This statement shows that the Dread
nought battleship has come TO stay.
every one of the seven powers following
the example set by England four years
ago, when she developed the Dread
nought as the advanced type of naval
fighting machine. Germany and the
United States quickly adopted this type
of ship and within the last two years all
the other powers have come to the big
ships.
In regard to the worlds tonnage, the
following comparative figures are given:
F.ngIand-Tonnage af1oat, $50, 16S, an
increase Of 1OO.S1S in the year. build
ing, 314,610 tons. an increase of 81 147
tons over that building last year Total
tonnage built and building. 2,113S3S,
gain in the year of 167 .965
Germany-Built. 666,O35, a gain of &C.
$50; building, 297, $40. a gain of S6.S1S
Total built and building, 963, $40. gain
of 143, 15a.
United States-Built, Ill 1O2, gain of
81. 757: building, 1O.45O. a gain of 6.211
Total built and building, 1924 ,152, a
gain of 3S.2O7.
F'rance--Built. 556.3o6. loss of 46.-
GA; building. 16S925. a gain of 124S7
Total built and building. 123.23l loss
of 41.675
Japan-Built. 4l3.291. gain of 12.4S7: