Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-16
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

Washington. d. c., July Eff the
great sea powers of the world should
agree to cease authorizing huge sums
of money for building battleships,
America would remain in second place.
with Great Britain first and Japan
rather poor third. These positions
would result from completion of the
constructor of ships already contract
ed for or authorized.
The present building program of the
nations will not be competed untll
about 1925 British losses during the
war would put the United States very
close to Great Britain In the matter
of tonnage of ships of battle, the diff
ference being only about 10000 tons
The ranking of the first three nations
in ship tonnage when the present pro
grams are completed. would be Great
Britain, 100000: United States. 1850
| 600: Japan, $4,000.
These tonnage figures include only
first line ships-superdreadnau
battle cruisers. scout cruisers. destroy.
ers. submarines. and a few special
! types of ships. The figures do not in
clude second line battleships. ships
whose age or low ca'!her armament
has rendered them virtually useless as
modern sea fighting machines.
The development of the dreadnauEht
class made all earlier vessels virtually
that one OF these vessels, With greater
speed and much longer range guns.
could stand off and destroy a whole
feet OF the type of fighting ship which
preceded 1t,
ANY comparison Of national sea DOW
or must of course be relative. The in
PRODUCTION of the seaplane as a fight
ing unit has put new light on the
whole situation. but many navies OF
the world must be computed from the
tonnage of the ships of the first line.
with particular stress on the big gun
vessels such as battle cruisers and
superdreadnaughts.
Socalled second line ships still have
their uses in war. The blockading OF
ports on coast lines. certain kinds of
patrol duty. and the raidinG Of com
merce carrying vessels has been
demonstrated to be an important part
of maritime warfare. and there are
many vessels in the nnvies of the
world well fitted for this kind Of duty.
This is particularly true of the British
Navy.
On known figures. American big gun
power apparently is greater than that
of the British navy However. the
number of l6-inch guns in the British
navy is not known. and may he large
enough to swing the balance in favor
of England Big guns include those
of Finch bore and up.
lhFer NVNrNs tVf'"H''IVH
Latest figures show the strength Of
the British navy, already built. to he
as follows;
First line battleships. 20. second line
hnttleships. 20. first line battle cruis-
ers 6; second line battle cruisers. 4:
first line cruisers, ,, second line cruis-
ers. 90: first line light cruisers. ~.
second line light cruisers "a; destroy
err leaders. "a: first line deStroyers
S34: second line destroy ers a.; first line
submarines II; second limo submarines.
So first line fleet submarines. is; sec
opd line fleet submarines, .: cruiser
submarine, 1. monitor type suhma
rincs, 2: and aircraft carriers, s.
In addition to this array Of vessels,
Great Britain has the following ships
now building:
First line light cruisers 5: destroyer
leader. I. first line destroyers. II first
line fleet submarines, IA. and monitor
tyne submarine. I.
Tho total number of British ships in
commission listed above is III. with
an aggregate tonnage of ZAP ,iis.
There are &c ships under construction,
aggregHtinE $500 tons.
Tho American navy has In commits
sion tho following vessels:
First line hattleships. 16; second line
hattleRhips. i6; second line cruisers. 10.
second line light cruisers. 3. first line
destroyers, $50; secoHd line destroyers.
IL first line submarines, AZ; second
line submarines, -, first line feet
submarines. ..
Listed among the ships building and
authorized Tor the United States navy
arc the following:
First line battleships. IL, first line
battle cruisers. G. first line light cruis-
ers. 10; nrst line destroyers IS: first
Inc submarines. 81; first limo fleet sub
marines,
Roughly. tho tonnage Of the l2i
American naval vessels listed as in
commission Is 1,s53ooo; of the ships
huildng. exclusive Of the submarines
he tonnage is given as soi.Ooo.
Japan's present navy is given as fol
lowe
First line hattleships, s. second line
hattleships, a first line battle cruisers
4, second line cruisers, s. FIRST line