The New York herald., 1921-08-19
JAPAN SOON TO HAVE
2 BIGGEST WARSH|PS
Superdreadnoughts, the Kaga
and TOsa, to Be Fl0ated
Late in October.
81 RPASS NEW INDIANA
Nippon Buys so Airplanes in
Britain and Perfects Her
Plants at Home.
SURPASS NEW INDIANA

Special Correspondence 70 TIE NEW YORK
HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London. Aug. 10.
The Japanese superdreadnoughts
Kaga and Tosa, which were begun last
year. are to be launched at the end
of October, the first at Kobe and the
second at Nagasaki. Designed as an
answer" to the American Indiana
class. these two ships will be the larg
est battleships afioat for some time to
come.
Their displacement Is $4,000 tons,
length 700 feet, breadth 100 feet. and
their gcared turbines will give them
a speed of 23h knots. AS main bat
terry each will carry ten or twelve
16-inch guns OF new type. throwing
a one ton shell.
A feature of the ships design is a
system of multiple steel decks over
vital parts as a defence against shells
fired at long range and aircraft bombs
The hull is fitted with anti-torpedo
bulges and there Is so much internal
protection that the ships are claimed
to be virtually unsinkable. 1t is be-
lieved that each ship will have cost
from $4,000, 900 to f1o.ooo,ooo when
complete.
In the Japanese naval programme OF
1919 credits were voted for the construc-
ton OF big aircraft carrier. THE NEW
YORK HERALD Bureau Is now able 70
give the first authentic details OF TINS
vessel, which will soon be launched. The
Hosho. as she is named. turns out to be
a close copy OF the British carrier Argus.
She is to displace 5000 tons and VIII
steam at 2i knots
In order to leave the entire upper deck
free for airplanes TO land and take OF
all upper works and tunnels are sup
messed. the smoke from the furnaces
being expelled from the side o. the
shin by horizontal. ducts The usual
hangers and equipment for handling air
craft viii be fitted. ara there will be
magazines for boiios and torpedo war
heads. The Hosho will be armed with
four AZ inch rapid fire guns and two
ant-aircraft guns.
The Japanese Navy Department has
nlaced an order with the Gloucester
Aviation Company of Cheltenham, Eng
land. for fifty airplanes OF the Sparrow
hawk type. These are said to be similar
in design to the Neuport Might Hawk
machine. Other British aircraft firms
have received inquiries from the Jap
anese Navy. Department respecting the
delivery Of airplanes and engines o.
various types.
Supplementary estimates for military
and naval aviation win be introduced
by the Japanese Government at the next
session Of the Imperial Diet, according
10 well Informed people here. Cen.
Yamanashi. who last month succeeded
Gen. Tanaka as war Minister. Is an en-
thusiast for aviation, and IS now effect
ing big economies In other branches or
the service In order TO have more money
available for expanding the flying
corps. which now consists or about 500
machines II is the Minister'S Intention
10 increase the figure 10 1900 BY the end
of next year, which will necessitate the
purchase ot machines abroad.
Meanwhile steps are being taken to
develop home production by suhsidizing
Arms engaged IN such work. The ka-
wasaki Dockyard Company oil Kobe y
building a big airplane factory az IA
gamigahara Another large factory.
built by the Mitsublshi Company at
Naroya. is already IN operation.
Some heavy bombing machines and
flying boats, modelled on the latest Brit
ish and American designs. are building
AZ Nagoya TO the order Of the Navy De-
partment. Production is said to have
begun OF n japanese version Of the Nieu-
port triplane, n two engined machine,
designed for bombing raids,
Admiral Kato. Minister Of Marine. is
reported to he drafting an amendment
to the naval aviation developmnt pro-
grammc passed IN 1918, This amendment
will have the effect of increasir- con-
siderably the establishment of 10 new
machines authorized IN that programme
Long distance endurance flights arc now
regularly undertaken by naval airmen
from the Yokosuka station. and flights
from warships AZ sea are Of frequent
atses.~s~s