The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
NAVY or AMERICA
| CLOSE TO BRITAIN
Rapid Strides in Building
Bring United States Far
Above Japan.
ALL ARE STILL BUILDING
This Country Will Have So
Capital Ships Against
John Bulls GO.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-The rapid rise
OF the United States as a naval power
during the last two years is graphically
demonstrated in figures showing the sea
strength Of the various world Powers,
compiled by the Navy Departments Of
fee 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 building pro-
gramme that will make the American
Navy for the first time In recent history
formidable contender for FIRST naval
honors.
A little more than two years ago. the
figures show, Germany, then second
naval power. boosted more than 100
more ships of all classes than the United
States, with a total tonnage exceedins
that of the American Navy by nearly
100000 tons. Great Britain's fleet at
that time numbered n total of $50 ships
aggregating 2.375,564 tons, as compared
with Germany's 262 ships and 1,05s,24
tons and the United States 1853 ships and
$685. OFT tons.
To-day Germany, now in third place
among naval powers, has q paper
navy OF $50 ships OF al types, totalling
S26,6S7 tons. These figures do not in
clude German vessels surrendered to the
Allies or Russian vessels In the hands of
the Germans Regarded from the stand
point of fighting efficiency as distin-
guished from number Of ships and ton
mage, Germany Is outclassed by both
France and Japan, her navy being COM
posed almost entirely of old and obsolete
vessels The pride Of Germany's sea
power was surrendered to the Allies at
Scapa Flow, whers many Of them were
sunk by their officers and crews.
Japan Rises to Third.
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 stand
ing Of the naval powers of the world to-
day from the standpoint of modern night
ing strength, according to the Navy De-
partment's figures. Ia Great Britain
United States. Japan. France. Germany,
Russia and italy.
The completion of all vessels now
building and projected will add 21s
ships totaling 100000 tons to the British
navy as compared with $40 ships and
1,116,3S9 tons FOR the United States, "a
IS ships and $4,000 tons for Germany,
according to the most authentic figures
available at the Navy Department.
The completion of the present building
programmes. matter of about three
years, will find the chief naval powers
of the world with the following rela-
tive strengths: Great Britain e55 ships
| aggregating 2,772,542 tons; United
States sos ships totaling 2.117.s22 tons
Japan 10 ships. 7s5,23s tons: France
253 ships, 7le,237 tons and Germany
463 ships measuring s23,437 tons.
| As a result Of the great torpedo.
boat destroyer building programme
| carried out by the United States during
the war the American navy now in.
Guides more than $50 destroyers lof the
fastest and latest type, with nearly
| 200 more building or contracted for
Great Britain owns about 425 of thi,
| type OF ycsscl, many of them old and OF
little modern naval value. and has about
| 10 building or authorized. Germany't
! destroyer force has been so reduced
as to make 1t a negligible factor. Japar
| owns 40 modern destroyers. according
to best available figures, and has about
20 under construction.
Great Britain emerged from the wal
| with by far the most powerful battle
4
world, although the United States nov
has under construction a formula BIZ
| aggregation OF major ships. Britain,
navy to-day includes IS battleships ant
0 battle cruisers less than 20 years old
with four powerful battle cruisers nov
| under construction.
Americas Formidable Fleet.
The United States has thirty-six bat
tleships capable of holding a place II
a modern battle line and not in
Guiding a number OF old type battle
ships listed for sale or the scrap hear
Thirteen Of the most modern battleship
in the world are under construction 70
the United States, and six battle cruiser
are authorized and will be complete,
during the next three years.
Japan has thirteen battleships an
seven battle cruisers completed and fou
battle cruisers under construction or au
thorized. Germany retains thirty battle
ships and one battle cruiser, most o
which are Of practically no naval value
and has two battleships and three battl
cruisers laid down, on which construc
ton has been stopped. France ha
eighteen battleships and no battle cruis
ers completed and Ave battleships an
four battle cruisers under construction.
The completion Of the present buildin
programmes will find the following
lineup of major ships; Great Britai