Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-30
BATTLESHIPS LIKE
KNIGHTS IN ARMOR
Suspension of Construction Proposed Until
Most Effective Type Of Vessel
Is Ascertained.

such an agreement and goes ahead
with her building program, then the
United States may understand that
Japan is getting ready for "eventu-
alities." The United States, too. can
get ready. No nation in the. world
today is SO capable of building up
huge navy as the United. States, be-
cause no other nation has the same
resources to draw upon. This is
frankly admitted by the British.
But unless the real purposes of
Japan are developed and it is shown
that Japan proposes to go ahead with
her big navy plans. it seems inevi-
table that the American people. firing
of pouring out millions for battle
ships, will send to Washington
Congress that will cut down the
naval appropriations to the minimum.
On the other hand. if japan acqul-
esces in the plan for reduction OF
naval armament, then the United
States can safely pursue such
course.
Naval Strength of Nations.
While accurate statistics regarding
the naval strength of the various ma
tons are difficult to obtain today,
there are certain main facts which
stand out. The British navy still
holds first place. The United States,
after Great Britain. has become the
second great naval power Of the
world. Next stands Japan. Germany
has been eliminated as a naval power.
Prior to the outbreak of the world
war. in 1914, the British had built
twenty-one modern battleships and
was building twelve. making a total
of thirty-three. In 1919, after the
close of the war, Great Britain had
thirty-five completed modern battle
ships. The United States in 1914 had
built nine modern battleships and was
building five more, a total of four
teen. In 1919 the United States had
completed seventeen modern battle
ships and had under construction six,
a total of twenty-three. Japan in
1914 had built three modern battle
ships and was building one. a total OF
four. In 1919 Japan had completed
seven battleships and was building
two, a total of nine. These figures.
of course. do not show the number of
lesser battleships, Of cruisers. de-
stroyers, submarines, etc. but they
Indicate the relative strength Of the
navies of these three powers.
An estimate Of the strength Of the
navies of the three naval powers as it
will be in 1924, If the present building
programs are carried out, by Archibald
Hurd. in the Fortnigfatly Review. shows
the United States ahead of both Great
Britain and Japan in the matter Of first
class battleships and tonnage. The
United States will have twenty-seven
frst-class battleships and eight of the
second class. a total Of thirty-five; Great
Britain will have eighteen first-class
battleships and eighteen Of the second
class, total of thirty-six; Japan will
have fourteen frst-clasS battleships and
three of the second class. total of
seventeen. The tonnage figures given
are: United States, 1,l50,650; Great
Britain, S83, 2s6, and japan, 497, $50.
Suspension Of building.
Great Britain, having learned her
lesson in the world war. is not build
ing big, heavily armored battleships.
In fact, she actually "scrapped" two
of these vessels which she had under
construction. In FRANCE and Italy the
construction of battleships not al
ready laid down has been suspended.
The United States and Japan. APP
parently, are the only nations where
battleship construction is now pro-
ceeding.
The contention of men who occupy
the position of Senator Borah is that
the United States should consider very
seriously whether it is advisable to
continue to build heavily armored
ships for the Navy before 1t pours
more millions into them.