The sun., 1912-07-12
Mr.. It,iman's Sardonic HumOr.

The effect of the hot spell is mani
fest in Senator TlLI.MAN's resolution
instructing the Committee on Naval
Affairs to define the most powerful ship
of war and cause it to be constructed
to make peace universal, leaving enough
money in the Treasury for good roads,
for improving waterways and irrigating
the arid lands. Although MIR. TILL
MAN il a member Of the committee
charged with this fearful responsibility
he knows more about the soil best
adapted to the cultivation Of rice and
cotton than he does about warships.
The problem that he asks the committee
to solve il constantly engaging the at
tcntion of the naval constructors OF
England, the United States, Germany,
France and Japan, and they have ar
rived ut no definite conclusions.
japan is building Il $1,000 ton ship.
tho Fuso, also four battle cruisers Of
1850 tons, that will carry i3.SS inch
guns. The Ftso will be armed with
still heavier guns. Germany in 1911
and in April, 1912, launched four battle
| ships Of "a, 800 tons and is constructing
four others Of uncertain but still greater
tonnage, besides two battle cruisers. the
Scydlitz and X, of $4,000 tons. Particu-
lars of their main batteries have not
been divulgcd. Great Britain launched
on March II. 1912, the battleship Queen
Mary of cs,sO tons, and has ordered
four more ships of similar type. the
Benbow, Delhi, Iron Duke and Marl-
borough. She is building battle cruis-
crs of ?6 $50 and % .oO0 tons, the Princess
Royal and Tiger respectively. The
plans of tho battle cruisers call for a
speed Of thirty knots. All these lcvia-
thans will have main batteries Of 1875
inch o II inch guns.
France is building or has authorized
seven battleships ranging from 1850
to 25,OOO tons displacement and lis
determined not to drop further TO the
rear" Austria is building four 2Oooo
! ton battlcships. Italy five of from 1000
TO 5000 tons, Russia seven Of not less
than 2? so tons, Argentina two Of Is, ,oOO
tons. Brazil one Of IS 900 tons, and Chile
two of 81 500 tons. The United States
constructors have drawn up specifica-
tions for battleships OF 30. 900 tons that
will carry "A inch guns. All the world
/ is hurrying supcr-drcadnoughts into
the water. and if the Senate Naval Com
mittce could summon tho experts 10
testify they would certainly disagree
about the ship Of maximum displace-
| mcnt, armor, armament and speed.
Mr.. TIl.L:,AN indulges the hope, in an
ironical spirit Of course. that the United
States could build single floating fort
so powerful that it would bc able 10
destroy any European or Asiatic fleet
in commission. The trouble is that Eng
land. and Germany for that matter. are
building bigger and bigger dread
noughts faster than the United States.
This country is no better than third in
new construction, and does not feel the
spur of ncccssityas her European rivals
do. In originality and daring our Eu-
ropean competitors set the pace. and
Japan is not letting the grass grow
under hcr feet. Recently the Scientific
American published this illuminating
and disqiicting survey:
Even if America continues to lay down
two dreadnoughis or super-dreadnouEhts Is
a year her strength in this type of ship in
! 1870 will. as compared with that Of Japan.
he as follows. on the assumption. OF course.
4 ,knt he 4 n . ,r,p j. N nd
and completed to time
! COMPLETED DHFADNotuH1s Is 1871
! America Japan.
! Armed with - inch guns :
Armed with ~ inch guns
! Armed with ~ inch or heavier
guns .-.. I? ~
| Totals - ~
1t is no theme for hippant irony. Na-
tions with one-half. one-fifth. onc-tcnth
of our resources are expanding their
fleets and preparing for the trial Of
strength that may or may not come, but
that will make history Ind change the
map if it does come. In the absence of
a general agreement to stop dread
nought building and limit arrnaments
it is fatuous to talk of knocking off work
at the construction yards to find money
for new waterways and irrigation. In
the case of the United States, which will
soon open the Panama Canal and must
defend it, such policy would be mad
ness. What is the expenditure of s2O,-
900 900 year for two dreadnought
compared with the cost Of great war
that might end in the humiliation of the
United States and a loss of a billion
dollars?
The Little BOOkkeeper In LObstcria.
Why is Iobstcria so engaging TO those
who can't afford il? What doth gravity
out of its bed at midnight? What is
the psychology of buying or Opening
wine? Here is this little Water street
bookkceper swept along into the Tombs.