Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-17
AMERICA NOW
is SEC 0 n D
AM0NGNAV|ES
OF The WORLD
Rapid Rise Of United States
Graphically Demonstrated
In Intelligence Depart
ment's Report.

Washington, Aug. 16-The rapid
rise Of the United States as naval
power during the last two years is
graphically demonstrated in figures
showing the sea strength of the va
rious world powers, compiled by the
Navy, departments office of naval
intelligence.
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 exceeding that of the
American navy by nearly 100000
tons. Great Brtain's fleet at that
time numbered a total of $50 ships,
aggregating 2,375,564 tons. as com
pared with Germany's 262 ships and
l,058,240 tons, and the United
States 1853 ships and S60,017 tons.
Today 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 German yes
sells 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
, tonnage, Germany is outclassed by
both France and Japan, its navy
being composed almost entirely OF
old and obsolete vessels.
Tapan Next to u. s.
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-to-
day, from the standpoint of modern
fighting strength, according to the
Navy departments figures, is Great
Britain, United States, Japan,
France, Germany, Russia and Italy.
The completion of all vessels now
building and projected will add PIG
ships, totaling 100000 tons, to the
! British navy as compared with $40
ships and 1,l163So tons for the
United States, "a ships and l67 200
tons for Japan, and Is ships and
10000 tons for Germany, according
to the most authentic figures avail
able 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 follow
ing relative strengths: Great Britain.
955 ships, aggregating 2,772,542 tons;
United States, COS ships, totaling
12.117,922 tons; Japan. 40 ships, 1885,
23o tons; France. 253 ships, 1929
tons, and Germany, 463 ships, meas
uring 923,437 tons.
As asresut of the great torpedo
boat destroyer building program
carried out by the United States
during the war, the American navy
now includes more than $50 Destroy
ers of the fastest and latest type,
with nearly 200 more building or
contracted for. Great Britain owns
about AIS of this type of vessel,
many of them old and of little mod
ern naval value, and has about 10
building or authorized. Germany's
destroyer force has been so reduced
as to make it negligible factor.
Japan, owns 40 modern destroyers,
according to best available figures,
aid has about 20 under construction.
England Is First.
Great Britain emerged from the
war with by far the most powerful
battleship and battle cruiser force.
in the world, although the United
States now has under construction
formidable aggregation of major
ships. England's navy today includes
S. battleships and 9 battle cruisers
less than 20 years old, with four
powerful battle cruisers now under
construction.
The United States has SO battle
ships capable of holding a place in
a modern battle line, and not in
Guiding a number of old type battle
ships listed for sale or the scrap
heap.
The completion of the present
building programs will find the fol-
lowing lineup of major ships: Great
Britain, S. battleships and Is battle
cruisers; United States. 40 battle
ships and 6 battle cruisers; Japan,
IS battle ships and IL battle cruisers;
Germany, 81 battleships and battle
cruisers, still subject to the final
naval peace terms, and France. %
| battle ships and battle cruisers.