The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-05-13
JAPAN BUILDS
.M|ONSTERNAvY
Lays keeIs for Worlds Greatest
Battle Cruisers-WilI Out
class All Nations.

"nhc SsPdn Is taking 0l8arma-
ment. she is building the greatest
warships in the world.
Exclusive information regarding
this latest development in Japanese
activity has been obtained through
official sources.
The new warships in course of con-
struction In the Nippon empire are
battle cruisers Of size, strength and
armament sufficient to blow any
other vessel ahost out OF the water
They outclass In power even the
huge new sea monster, Hood. of the
British Navy, and the American night
Ing fortresses of the latest type will
be Insignificant beside the Japanese
vessels. according to information YER
lied In Washington.
The frst two of the fleet are now
on the ways in the imperial naval
dock yards with six months construc-
ton completed. Both should be
launched toward the end of this year
and put In commission within the
year following.
The ."Akagi" is building at the
kure yard and the "AmaKi" at the
Yokosuka yard. They will cost about
&3S, 100000 each. stupendous sum in
q country where skilled labor is the
cheapest In the world.
Only by comparison with the most
effective lighting machines of other
nations can the possibilities OF the
new Japanese ships be appreciated.
The Hood Is today the mightiest ship
on the seas. She displaces Il,20O
tons, speeds thirty-one knots an
hour. and carries a main battery Of
eight nfteen-inch forty-nv caIib-r
guns, each firing q shell weighing
$3.50 pounds.
WILL sURPAss THE HOOD.
The United States 10 building battle
cruisers of the Saratoga class, which,
when completed, will surpass the big
British vessel. The American ships
will displace 43.50O tons. speed thirty
three and a quarter knots. and carry
a main battery OF eight sixteen inch
guns. Of nifty caliber. firing 2,1OO-
pound shells.
In every respect the American ships
are to surpass the English champion
OF the seas, but in every respect save
speed the Japanese ships will surpass
the American vessels. The new Oriep-
tai titans will displace normally a. 900
tons, and at full load $4,000 tons.
Their speed will be about thirty-one
knots.
Against the eight nfteen-inch
guns OF the Hood and the eight six
teen-inch guns of the Saratoga, the
Akagi and the Amagi will carry ten
sixteen-inch guns Against the 1880
pound British shell and the 2,100-
pound American projectile. the Jap
anese guns will hurl missives of de-
struction weighing 2,460 pounds
apiece. The greatest ships OF the
American navy will have just one
superiority. as one naval expert
stated today, and that will be a most
un-American advantage-the ability
to run away before a superior force.
The range of their guns will ex-
coed the maximum visibility. Pro-
vision will be made for the storing
and launching OF seaplanes from
may be derived in sighting the prey
and directing the guns Of the mon
sters.
TO feet between the perpe ndiculars
The beam outside the bulges of the
ships laid down Is 105 feet and within
the bulges about 102 feet. The draft
normal In 291a feet and fully loaded ~
feet. Each vessel of the class will
carry / 800 officers and men.
The ten 16-inch guns OF the main
battery will be mounted in FIVE turrets.
each containing two guns.
The ships will carry a secondary
anti-destroyer battery of twenty so
caliber 81 Inch guns mouuted on the
beams of the ships well above the
water line.