The New York herald., 1921-12-01
REALIZATION is SLOW
Situation Viewed in More
Serious Light, Declares
SchOrnstheimer.
SEA STRENGTH OUTLINED
Japanese Have Great Advan-
vantage Over United States
in Scout Cruisers.
BY eraser ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

BY eraser SCHORNsTHEIMER
Special Despatch 90 TIE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Nov. 80.
The most important development TO-
day came directly from the fact that
Japan is actually the second naval
Power. Naval officers are figuring the
exact strength OF Japan In all zones
and it becomes clear that with the
Mutsu Japanese control of the Pacific
is certain. Coupled with this fact is
a dangerous rally on the part of Japan
for the inclusion of the Mutsu and
the 1o-10-7 ratio. The resultant sit
uation is a friendly clash, If it can SO
be interpreted, between the naval ex-
perts.
The astounding facts brought out
by the Hughes figures at the recent
Showdown" have opened a cache OF
naval secrets. The cards were on the
table in front of Mr.. Hughes when he
made his speech giving out the Amer
lean plan. And the strange part of II
is that no one, not even the foreign
delegates, fully realized it at the time.
Realization is slowly filtering through
the minds of all at the conference.
Naval officers and observers regard
the situation just brought TO light as
revolutionary. 1t makes one see the
situation in a far different and more
serious light. America is the third naval
Power. and what is infinitely more Sc
rious America will remain the third
Power unless the Mutsu is scrapped or
we build battle cruiser power which will
duly make up for the added strength the
Mutsu gives to Japan and offset some
of the strength of Japan's powerful
division of such ships.
4 Per Cent. Greater.
JapanS naval tonnage is per cent.
greater than we have believed. Add to
this the tremendous advantage Japan
now possesses in the Mutsu and n very
high ratio of power for that nation is
the result. OF course. Japan would
make UP quite a little Of the Mur-us
displacement by scrapping the old battle
ship Settsu. carrying 12-inch guns. But
the Settsu is more of a hindrance than
a. help, as are our six vessels OF the
Delaware. Utah and Wyoming classes.
all carrying 12-inch guns.
After scrapplng the Settsu there
would not be single ship in the Jap
anese navy carrying less than 14-inch
guns. Not single ship is to be retained
in the British navy which does not carry
l3.5-inch guns or better. However. the
United States still would retain these
six old ships. which despite their aggre-
gate displacement of 135,750 tons would
be outranged and outweighed by and
be slower than any OF the capital ships
in the other two great navies. These
ships would be obsolete. They would
constitute a menace TO the rest Of our
fleet. because they could neither fight
nor run. More powerful ships would
have 20 be used to protect them. They
are a vital source OF weakness and
danger in the event the Mutsu Is in
cluded In the Japanese navy.
Subtract the total displacements OF
these ships from our grand total OF
ships TO be retained under the plan and
We have 364.900 tons of modern ships
remaining. Add tho Mutsu TO Japan's
tonnage and subtract the Settsu and
Japan has 315,100 tons. Ma let me
point out again that tonnage is no syno-
nym for actual power. II we retain
these six useless ships 10 make up our
figures their minus value makes up for
tho difference In tonnage between the
existing fleets. At this point, II In Ia
be seen. japan and America are equal
IN power. But even 50 tho actual fight
ing power OF the fleets is not clear.
Comparison of Newest ships.
japan has at present the two largest.
fastest and most powerful modern ships
in the world. carrying 16 inch guns
We have one vessel carrying 16 inch
guns. the Maryland. The Maryland is
smaller by from 1000 TO $500 tons than
either OF these Japanese monsters She
is also two knots slower than either
and her gun power in respect 20 the
actual weight of metal thrown is sup
posed TO be much less. Greater dis
placement means greater protection and
so, In first class fighting power. the
preponderance OF Japan over the United
states Is far greater than two to one in
size speed, gun power and protection
This shows that Japan Is at less,
n little more powerful than the United
States at present Then consider the
aforementioned Japanese battle cruisers
they give TO Japan tremendous tactical
advantage over our bnttleships, for they
have a speed OF 27 knots, as against 2i
knots for all our battleships The ad-
vantage of Japan becomes palmer.
We are building ten fast scout
cruisers. Three win be completed next
year and tho other seven the year fol-
lowing. IL all goes we'll. We have none
az present. japan has ten fast cruisers
and is building dozen more These
ships give her tremendous scouting
advantage over us and this scouting adj
vantage is vital. That Ia why all nations
build scouting ships. Japans present
advantage Is ten 10 nothing In this re-
spect. and soon It Will be better than
two to one.
The total OF advantages OF Japan over
the United States shows that she IL
quite little more powerful than we are
at present. II the Mutsu IL retained and
the 10-10-T ratio adhered to Japan
still will be more powerful
The above comparisons concern ma
terial forces alone. Only recently ]
pointed out the outrageous condition
navy TO fall because Of the lack OF men
and fuel Japan is not troubled by
either OF these things. Her feet Is in
good condition. going TO manocuvree
and target practice regularly. unham-
pcred BIZ the lack Of mon or fuel or the
lack OF orleiai and public support