Arizona republican., 1921-01-08


 erally regarded indispensable class of modern ships of war with first line battle cruisers and others classed as "second line" The United States has none completed and under construc- ton, Japan in service and pro jected, France and Italy have no battle cruisers built or building.
 In compiling the figures as to cruiser strength, rigid qualifications were laid down for this type of vessel. The re- quirements for first line cruisers were declared to be large fast cruisers launched since Jan. l, 1901, capable of keeping station with the battle fleet. Neither the United States, Japan, France or Italy has been able to meet the requirements. Great Britain IS credited with 3 such vessels in serV- fec none under construction, and 20 Tn the second line. while the United States has none under construction and ID in the second line. Neither Japan, France nor Italy has any such cruisers built or building, though each nation has a few obsolete cruisers classified as "second line"
 u. S. Third In Light Cruisers
 In light cruiser strength Great Brit ain leads all other nations by a large margin. with Japan second and the United States a poor third. The Brit ish navy has A light cruisers in the first line, 24 in the second line and under construction. Japan has $ such vessels in service and under con- struction, while the United States has ships built as scout cruisers desig- mated as Tight cruisers of the sec ond line and 10 light cruisers of the Omaha class for construction. France has 4 first line light cruisers in serv- ice and building and Italy in service and none building. Several of the French and Italian ships were oo- tained from the German navy. Great Britain is shown to be the only nation with destroyers' leaders, having 24 such vessels with a speed of 30 knots and up and a minimum ! displacement of 1,500 tons and another 1 building. Neither Japan nor the United States has any destroyer lead CTS under construction while France has 12 building and Italy five. Despite the United States greal war time destroyer building program, | Great Britain still maintains prepon- l derance in both first and second line vessels of this type In the first line 1 classification, the British navy has 354 | destroyers built and Il building. th' | United States 260 in service and II | authorized, but not under construc' | ton; Japan 27 built, 15 under con struction and probably 30 others au- thorized; France 10 completed and ont building, and Italy 10 in service and l. ! authorized.
 u. s. Only British Competitor Although the United States is Grea Britains only serious competitor in tn
 matter of submarine strength, there l no evidence in tables of anything ap l preaching equality in this branch | naval strength. England has n frs
 line submarines in service. 66 in tn
 second line, IS first line float suomer
 sibles and seven second line, on
 cruiser submarine and two monito
 type submarines mounting a l2-inc gun, and another building.
 Against this great undersea fleet c 165 vessels the United States coul show 8 total of 9S submarines of a
 types, divided into 52 first line and 1 . second line short radius craft, tw fleet submarines and no cruiser sun ) marines. The United States has nor of the great submersible mounting IF . inch turret guns either built or build 3 ing. Japan has no first line suoms rfnes of any class. 10 second line shol : radius vessels and no fleet. cruising [ monitor types, although about 40 suE 9 mersibles of all classes have been au :, thorized. France has 63 submarine | of all types and none building and ltal 22 built and eight building. A recapitulation of the figures show that she Jan. 1, 1921, strength of tf . three principal naval powers in fir 8 lina major ships (battleships and oa
 tie cruisers). mounting guns Of 1S z inch caliber or greater, is as follow! Q Great Britain, 2S vessels of 723,6 t tons; United States 10 vessels of 300 3 100 tons and Japan nine vessels of 26l T 52O. This compilation excludes capit Q ships mounting guns of less than ls . inch caliber, because of their low ra t of efficiency in modern battle. v The projected strength of the sar g three powers at the end of 1928,
 capital ships within the same limiti s tions as to caliber of guns, on u ~ v basis of 60 projected building is fix 5 at:
 a Great Britain, 2s ships, totalliI
 723,e50 tons; United States. 27 shi .0 of es3,0o0 tons and Japan 16 ships
 52S,s2o tons.
 Japan ia expected to reach Its grea
 est period of increase between IS
 and 1927, when the relative standi
 as projected is indicated as being
 same in the case of Great Britain & AA On1ted SIaleS. put WllH Japan "a
 ital ship fleet increased to 24 vess
 of s4S,s20 tons.
 In The total first lins ship strength rs the three powers Jan. 1. is placed { -s Great Britain 532 ships of 1,6o1.t SS tons; United States 330 vessels l1 l1 7ssT73 tons; Japan. l3 ships of S40,I oS tons.
 ]u A comparison of the broadside z
 power of first line capital sh
 mounting 12-inch guns and up, sho
 the following;
 Great Britain 2ss guns: Uni
 States ITS guns and Japan 96 gu
 These figures take into account ol
 vessels completed.