The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-18
STATES
NOW SECOND In
NAVY STRENGTH.
Building Program During
War, Coupled With Ger
rnany's Surrender, Makes
Us British Contender.

Washington, Aug. 1.-THE rapid rise
of the United States as a naval power
during the past two years is graphic
ally demonstrated in figures showing
the sea strength of the various world
powers, compiled by the navy depart
ment's office of naval intelligence.
They show. that the United States.
close pressed by France in 1917 for
it's place as third naval power in the
world, is now second only to Great
Britain and is at present pushing to
completion a building program that
will make the American navy, for the
first time in recent history, a formid
able contender for first naval honors.
A little m6re than two years ago.
the figures show, Germany, then sec
ond naval power, boasted more than
100 more ships of all classes than the
United States, with a total tonnage
exceeding that of the American navy
by nearly 100000 tons. Great Brit
aims fleet at that time numbered
total of $50 ships, aggregating 2,375,-
564 tons, as compared with Germany's
262 ships and 1,05S,240 TONS and the
United States 153 ships and $780,
OFT tons.
Today Germany, now in third place
among naval powers, has paper"
navy of $50 ships of all types, total
ing s26.s37 tons. These figures do
not include German vessels surren-
dered to the allies or Russian vessels
in the hands of the Germans Regard
ed from the standpoint of fighting
efficiency as distinguished from num-
ber of ships and tonnage. Germany
is outclassed by both France and ia
pan. her navy being composed almost
entirely of old and obsolete vessels.
The pride of Germany's sea power was
surrendered to the allies of Scapa
Flow, where many of them were sunk
by their officers and crews.
Japan, fifth naval power in 1917,
has passed France and Germany both
and now ranks next to the United
States in fighting sea strength The
actual standing of the naval powers
of the world today from the 5tand-
point of modern fighting strength, ac-
cording to the navy departments fig
ures, is Great Britain. United States,
Japan, France, Germany, Russia and
Italy.
The completion of all vessels now
building and projected will add 219l
ships totaling 100000 tons to the Brit
ish navy as compared with $40 ships
and 1.116,3s9 tons for the United States
"a ships and 167,200 tons for Japan.
and 13 ships and $4,000 tons for Ger
many, according to the most authentic
figures available at the navy depart
ment.
The completion of the present build
ing programs, a matter of abour three
years. will find the chief naval powers
of the world with the following rela-
tive strengths: Great Britain, 955 ships
aggregating 2.772.542 tons; United
States. SOS ships. totaling 2.1I7e22
tons; Japan, 170 ships. 7S5.239 tons;
France 253 ships. 719,237 tons. and
Germany. 463 ships. measuring 923,-
437 tons.
As a result of the great torpedo
boat destroyer building program car
ried out by the United States during
she war the American navy now in
cIudes more than $50 destroyers of
the fastest and latest type, with near |
ly 200 more building or contracted FOR. |
Great Britain owns about 425 of this
type OF vessel. many of them old and
OF little modern naval value, aud has
a bout 110 building or authorized. Ger |
many's destroyer force has been so
reduced as to make 1T a negligible |
factor. Japan owns 40 mo:lern de- |
stroyers, according to best available |
figures. and has about 20 under con- |
struction.
Great Britain emerged from the war !
with by far the most powerful battle |
ship end battle cruiser force in the |
world: although the United States has
now under construction formidable |
aggregation of major ships. Eng
lands navy today includes 55 battle /
ships and 9 battle cruisers. less than l
20 years old. with four powerful battle /
now under construction.
The United States has 35 battle
ships capable of holding a place IN a /
modern battle line and not including a /
number of old type battleships listed /
for sale or the scrap heap Thir-
teen of the most modern battleships /
in the world are under construction /
for the United States AMI 6 battle
cruisers are authorized and will be