The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-05-11
AMERICAN NAVY
ITO RANK WORLD
Program Assures u. S. Suprem-
acy Over British Empire
in 1923

Washington, May lO.--In 1923 the
United States will have navy larger
than the combined fleets Of the Brit
ish Empire and will have gained !,
through the efforts OF the Republican
party.
This il the startling assertion made
by Representative Fred A. Britten, oil
Illinois, a member OF the House Mill
tary A fairs committee, and substan-
tiated by an array Of figures gathered
from the Intelligence Bureau Of the
Navy Department, where they had
been kept in utmost secrecy until the
great ambition OF all navy men had
been actually accomplished.
The significance of Britten's state
mment lies in the fact that it means
that after 1923 the Stars and Stripes
and not the Union Jack will protect
the freedom Of the seas" and that
therefore the United States will be
the most powerful nation in the
world.
Win Lead in 1923
II have made q very careful COM
parison between the first-line battle
ships and battle cruisers Of Great
Britain and the same character Of
ships Of the American navy" said
Britten, land think l can prove
without fear of successful contradic-
ton that in first-line 20,O00-ton ships
Of at least z0-knot speed the United
States now has built or is building the
most powerful navy in the world.
During the years 1916, 1917 and
1918 the United States has made tre-
mendous strides in battleship author
ization, with the result that 1923 will
see the American navy the FREEDOM
inant navy of the world and capable
Of defeating the navies Of any three
navies combined excepting that of
Great Britain. Beginning with the
North Dakota, Delaware and Utah
(leaving out the South Carolina and
Michigan because of their light ton
mage, although they carry eight big
guns), I find that we have 50 battle
ships and battle cruisers built and
building, all of which will be available
for action in 1923, while Great Britain
has IS first-line ships OF the same
character, this giving England an ad-
vantage of two ships. which we i'm
mediately offset by greater tonnage.
bigger guns. superior muzzle velocity,
heavier armor and more modern con-
struction. The American ships have
a total tonnage of l,1l8.6s0 tons as
against British tonnage of $4,000
tons. showing a superior tonnage of
234,sS0. equaling 1858 tons per ship
Lead In Big Guns 5
I'm average speed Of all vessels we
are practically the same. showing a
fraction Of 23.7 knots average per
chip. In main batteries we show $40
guns of 3l@ for the British, with an
average Of 1908 big guns per ship to
the British 897 guns per ship. Our
guns will average l4K inches caliber
- against IS rs for the British. This
will give us tremendous advantage in
weight of cold steel thrown by our
broadsides, which will hurl $4,000
pounds as against $4,000 pounds by
the British. Our ships will average
1868 pounds of projectiles as against
1924 for British hroadside This
is in the main battery. In the sec
ondary battery our percentage of SUI
periority IS even greater Our 4o4
guns average 81 inches caliber as
against the British SIG guns with an
average Of ~ inches. showing our
guns to average Is an inch larger
in caliber and throwing 40.lss pounds
of projectiles as against 32,0S0 for the
British. One volley from all guns on
our s. ships will throw SSS.63S
pounds of steel as against $4,000
pounds rom all British guns,
"In 1928 we shall have 34.2 per cent
more tonnage, carry larger guns.
throw III per cent more long range
steel, and have more modern ships
with greater radius of action AMI
power than England has ever possess
ed. Great Britain has $50 destroyers
built and building to our 322, but ours
are larger, faster and more modern.
In submarines each will have $50, but
to ours will be added American me-
chanical ingenuity"