The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-24

mission before then. fleet which was equal to any two others of the world. at least 15 great modern battIeships. of course. these ships have not all been built within that period. Prac- tically all were laid down before the beginning of the war, some were well on their way toward completion. But none was in service before, so it con stitutes a new fleet. The figures are amazing. They show that in the r months mentioned the British will pro- auce 45O,o00 tons of the finest battle ships in the world. Tonnage is one way Of estimating the strength of a fleet Armament is another. On these ships -ofwar there will be emplaced no fewer than so of the magnificent 15- inch guns. the largest any navy uses. 20 14-inch. 2S 13.5-inch, 10 13-inch, I4 12-inch, 232 6-inch. and It 4-inch, along with 65 torpedo tubes.
 Today the fleet of the United States consists of eight battleships of the first line in commission. Shortly two others, the Oklahoma and Navada, will alao be out, but those first eight show a tonnage of 1s9650 Then there are building, counting the Oklahoma and Nevada. seven of these first line ships which means superdreadnaughts Their tonnage will be 223, 800 The two com bined will not equal the new British fleet. Then on the American active list follow 1s battleships all of the
 pre-super -dreadnaught era, all com pletely outclassed not only by these newer British types, but also by the first line ships of the American. navy. They are small vessels. comparatively, slow. and without great hitting power In an engagement a Queen Elizabeth could care for two or three of them without difficulty. Their total tonnage is 2S3, ,000
 
 first line ships now in commission no ship of the American navy has guns larger than 12-inch. while of the new vessels being turned out in England virtually all have 15-inch guns This calibre has been adopted as the best by the British experts, it Is the size being used on all new ships.
 If is estimated that by January the British fleet will be increased by at least 15 battleships. Two of these are the Turkish ships which were build ing hero when war broke out--the Sul- tan Mehmet, Richard V, and the Sul- tan Osman I. The first is 2S,000 tons, the second 27,500, with speeds of 21 and 23 knots, and carrying main batteries of 10 13-inch and 14 12-inch guns, re- spectively. Then there are the two Chilean superdreadnaughts, formerly called the Almirante Cochrane and the Almirante Latorre, sister ships of 2S,- eco tons, with speed of 23 knots. each bearing 10 14-inch guns, 16 6-inch and four submerged tubes.
 The two Turkish and the two Chilean battleships are understood now to be in commission. It is difficult to tell just how many of the vessels known to have been under construction at the beginning of the war are actually in service how They have been coming out at known rate of one month that much MT. Churchill publicly an- nounced early this year-and there is reason to believe that even that great programme has been speeded up.
 The Benbow and Emperor of India are doubtless ready for action. They are ships of 25,000 tons, with bat teres of 10 13.5-inch and 12 6-inch guns. They have speed of 21 knots. Then comes five ships of the Queen Elizabeth type. The Lizzie" herself and the Warspite are in commission while the Valiant, Malaga and Barham must be almost ready. They are the most powerful ships afloat, each of 27,- 300 tons. carrying eight 15-inch and 1G 6-inch guns, and each capable of doing 25 knots an hour.
 After these come the Royal Sovereign class. The Royal Sovereign herself will be finished by the end of the year. Some of her sisters-Royal Oak, Resolu- tion, Ramallies and Revenge-are on active service. They. too, are of 27,500 tons, but have a speed of only 21 knots. They carry batteries of eight 15-inch and 12 e-inch guns. Their armor is 1874, as compared to 12 for the Queen l Elizabeths These complete list of IA great battleships. Then there Is the | Tiger, called battle cruiser. 27,000- 1 ton ship with the magnificent speed of l 2? knots, which in actual battle went | to 30 She has eight 13.6-inch and I6 l-inch guns.
 | The battleship Agncourt of tho l Queen Elizabeth class and the Resist ance of the Royal Sovereign class, were laid down in 1914, and must be well on the way to completion. Ships