The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-08-18
UNITED STATES
MADE RAPID RISE
IN SEA POWER
In 1917 It Was a Close Contestant With
France for Third Position and 1t Now
Is Second Only to Great Britain,
and Threatening Her Supremacy.

Washington, D. c., Aug. ls.-The rap
id rise OF the United States as naval
power during the past two years is
graphically demonstrated in figures
showing the sea strength of the various
world powers, compiled by the navy de-
partment's office Of naval intelligence.
They show that the United States, close
pressed by France in 1917 for its place as
third naval power in the world, is now
second only to Great Britain and il at
present pushing to completion building
program 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 ma
val power, boosted more than 100 ships
Of all classes than the United States
with q total tonnage exceeding that Of
the American navy by nearly 100000
tons. Great Britain's feet at that time
numbered total of $50 ships, aggregst-
ing 2,375, 564 tons, as compared with Ger.
many's 262 ships and ,05S, 2i0 tons and
the United States 1853 ships and S60,0l7
tons.
To-day, Germany, now in third place
among naval powers, has a paper" navy
Of $50 ships Of all types, totaling s26,637
tons. These figures do not include Ger
man vessels surrendered to the allies or
Russian vessels in the hands of the Ger
mans Regarded from the standpoint OF
fighting efficiency, as distinguished from
number of ships and tonnage Germany
is outclassed by both France and Japan
her navy being composed almost entirely
Of old and obsolete vessels. The pride OF
Germany's sea power was surrendered TO
the allies at Scapa Flow, where many
Of them were sunk by their officers and
crew
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 fight
ing strength, according to the navy de.
partment's figures, is: Great Britain,
United States, Japan, France Germany,
Russia and Italy.
The completion of all vessels now
building and projected will add 2l9 ships,
totaling 100000 tons, TO the British
navy, as compared with $40 ships and
! 1859 tons for the United States, "a
ships and 1877 200 tons for Japan, and IL
ships and 10000 tons for Germany, &C
cording to the most authentic figures
available at the navy department.
The completion of the present building
programs, matter of about three years,
will find the chief naval powers of the
world with the following relative
strengths: Great Britain, 955 ships az.
gregating 2,772542 tons; United States,
COS ships, totsling 2,ll7,923 tons; Japan,
40 ships, 7S5,23D tons; France, 253 ships,
1929 tons; and Germany, 1853 ships,
measuring 923,437 tons.
As a result of the great torpedo boat
destroyer building program carried out
by the United States during the war, the
American navy now includes more than
l50 destroyers of the fastest and latest
type, with nearly 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, and
has about 40 building or authorized.
Germany's destroyer force has been so
reduced as to make it a negligible factor.
Japan owns 40 modern destroyers, ac-
cording to best available figures, and has
about 20 under construction.
Great Britain emerged from the war
with by far the most powerful battleship
and battle cruiser force in the world; al
though the United States now has under
construction formidable aggregation of
major ships Engands navy to-day in
cudes SIS battleships and nine battle
cruisers less than 20 years old, with four
powerful battle cruisers now under con
struction.
The United States has 36 battleships
capable of holding place in a modern
battle line and not including a number
of old-type battleships listed for sale or
the scrap heap. Thirteen of the most
modern battleships in the world arc un-
der construction for the United States
and six battle cruisers are authorized
and will be completed during the next
three years.
Japan has 10 battleships and seven
battle cruisers completed and four battle
cruisers under construction or authorized.
Germany retains 30 battleships and one
battle cruiser, most of which arc of prac-
tically no naval value, and has two bat
tlcships and three battle cruisers laid
down, on which construction has been
stopped. France has Is battleships and
no battle cruisers completed, and five