The Delta independent., 1913-08-22
THE JAPANESE AND
THE AMERICAN NAvIES

1t is a matter of particular import
ance at the present juncture, in view
OF the recent crisis, that the people
of America should take serious STOCK
of Japanese nava development. The
navy OF the United Sites is still N
comparably superior to that of Japan;
but its superiority is very largely de-
pendent upon ships built during what
is known as the 'pre-dreadnought
era, and which are therefore in
state OF ever increasing obsolescence.
The future can not be guaranteed by
preponderance or unitj, which, how
ever their merits when they were
built are now wholly outclassed. The
Panama Canal, while it will add to
the ability of the American fleet, in
crease its responsibilities. The canal
affords the navy a shorter route TO
the Pacific. but it also adds to the
dangers the Urited States may run IN
the Pacific. Four years ago NJ. Sar-
tori kato, ore of the best informed
Japanese publicisits, wrote in an
English naval periodical: whether
allowed or disallowed, Japan's insist
ent aspiration is to be master of the
Pacific" II will be- wise to bear this
Jollcy in mind when considering the
facts which may be regarded either
as the outcome OF it Or as contribut-
ing toward it.
The Uunited Sites has thirteen
dreadcaughts built and building to
Japans twelve, The difference in
tonnage, such as it is. is slightly in
.avor of Japan. In gun power the
japanese are Is per cent better off
nan VIC, although tSey have one
dreadnaught less.
There is in these fscts no cause
or pane. Japan has still. at the out
de. only five completed dreadnaught
TO the eight of the United States, and
taking into consideration the more
rapid rate of construction in this
country there is no good reason why
he proportion should be altered. 1t
is. however. erfectly clear that the
naval superiority Of America over ia
pan can not be maintained by laying
down one batteship per year. From
1911 onward Japan has laid down or
ordered eight dreadnaughts to the
four of the United States and auo
four battle cruisers. besides minor
craft, are provided for in the new
Japanese program. When Admiral
Takaraba was placing the new pro-
gram before tho .ower house of the
Japanese diet, le declared that II had
been prepared with an eye to the 81
battleships which a certain power
might be able to oppose it This was.
Of course, direct reference to the
the United States. since no European
power is in a position to risk the
dispatch of so many ships to so dis
tant a station 1t must have become
perfectly obvious to every man who
examines the situation that pro
vision of one battleship a year will
not suffice to maintain the position
of the United States among the naval
powers of the world. Between 1901
a
armored ships were launched for the
United States fleet. In the five and
a half succeeding years only ten have
been launched. No nation can expect
to maintain its position in the face of
such facts as these. With the advent
of the dreadnought costing more to
build and more to keep up than ships
OF the earlier types. some diminua-
tion in numbers was to be looked for,
but there is no nation that has reduc-
ed its rate of construction to such an
extent as the United States. At the
end OF the "pre-dreadnought" period
the United States was easily second
to Great Britain. Germany has now
usurped that position. and If the pres
ent rate of comparative progress is
allowed to continue, 1t will not be
long before the rise of Japan cam
pels America to take still lower
position In the scale.