Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-08

A@N~N@ >NNSS ~N~A~~ ~~~~ r ~SSAAS oA@sHos
The American navy today, ac-
cording to this information, has
more than double the strength of
the Japanese navy and this ratio
will be maintained even with the
completion of the building pro-
grams of the two countries. The
United States will be far superior,
not only in capital ships but also
in destroyers and submarines.
Japan, however. will have double
the number of battle cruisers. now
possessing four such vessels with
eight others projected. while the
United States has none completed
and only six building.
without reference to second line
ships. of which Great Britain has
preponderance in all classes over
the United States and Japan, the
British navy contains twenty-six
battleships carrying at least ten
guns each of 12-inch caliber or
larger and displacing 10000 tons
or more. The United States has
sixteen such vessels, Japan SIX,
France seven ana Italy four. Great
Britain has no first line battleships
under construction, while the Unit
ed States has eleven, Japan seven,
France four and Italy four.
The British navy. pioneer in the
development of the battle cruiser
type, still retains an easy advantabv y
in this generally regarded indis-
pensable class of modern ships of
war, with six first line battle cruis-
ers and four classed as second
line" The United States has none
completed and six under construc-
tion, Japan four in service and
eight projected. France and Italy
have no battle cruisers built or
building.
In compiling the figures as to
cruiser strength, rigid qualifica-
tions were laid down for this type
of vessel. The requirements tor
first line cruisers were declared to
be- large fast cruisers. launched
since January ]. 1901. capable of
keeping station with the battle
fleet. Neither the United States,
Japan. France nor Italy have been
able to meet the requirements.
Great Britain is credited with two
such vessels in service. none under
construction and twenty in the
second line, while the United States
has none under construction and
ten in the second line. Neither
Japan, France nor Italy has any
such cruisers built or building, al
though each nation has a few OBJ
solete classified as second line"
In light cruiser strength Great
Britain leads all other nations by
a large margin, with Japan second
and the United States a poor third.
The British navy has forty-four
light cruisers in the first line, twen-
ty-four in the second line and five
under construction. Japan has six
such vessels in service and nine
under construction, while the
United States has three ships built
as scout cruisers designated as
Tight cruisers" of the second line
and light cruisers of the Omaha
class for construction. France has
four first line light cruisers in
service and six building and italy
five in service and none building.
Several of the French and Italian
ships were obtained from the for
mer German navy.
Great Britain is shown to be the
only nation with any destroyer
leaders, having twenty-four such
vessels with a speed of thirty knots
and up and minimum displace-
ment of 1900 tons and another
building. Neither Japan nor the
United States has any destroyer
leaders under construction. while
France has twelve building and
Italy five.
Despite the United States great
war time destroyer building pro-
Great Britain still MAIN
tains a preponderance in both firs.