The Washington times., 1922-11-06
j. S.,WEAKER
THAN BRITAIN
IN NAVY UNITS
Japan Also More Powerful on
Water In Certain
Respects.
BY UnIyersAI service.

Respects.
ny Universal Service.
The United States Is weaker
than Japan and Great Britain In
many important naval units, a
confidential British admiralty re-
port received here today reveals.
Appropriations allowed by tho
budget bureau not only make 1t
impossible for the American navy
to keep abreast of its rivals, but
will halt the limited building pro-
gram now under way.
Only in the capital or first class
battleship class Is the United
States not at a disadvantage, the
report reveals.
Builds Lighter Ships.
1t also shows that while Japan is
living up to the letter and spirit of
he five-power treaty in regard to
tirst-class battleships. she Is rapidly
acquiring an enormous tonnage In
he lighter craft permitted under the
treaty.
Particularly In the scout cruiser
,lass Is the United States hopelessly
,utclassed. the admiralty report
shows. These are comparatively
light ships I'm armor plate, with great
speed. which usually scout ahead of
The fleet. even ahead Of the de-
stroyers.
The United States has no light
cruisers Of the scout type. but had
started construction on ten. These
are Of 5000 tons. carrying six'inch
guns. The Budget Bureau has cut
appropriations SO drastically that at
most the United States will be able
to complete only five.
Great Britain has In commission
fifty OF these cruisers and eight In
the process of construction. They
are Of the same type az the British
ship Raleigh. which recently visited
the United States and was lost on
rocks off the Canadian shore.
The United States has some
cruisers Of the Pittsburgh and
Huron type. They have no speed.
and are considered altogether ooso.
lete. They were constructed on the
lessons learned in the Spanish
American war.
Japan has twelve Of the modern
scout cruisers in commission and
thirteen building, taking the place
of heavier construction planned,
but abandoned as a result OF the
navy treaty. The Japanese cruisers
make a speed of thirty-six knots
and carry 7h.inch guns.
Z. S. Far Behind.
In airplane carriers, which ex.
perts say will be the most powerful
units In the modern navy. the
United States Is far behind.
The United States has just one,
a converted coal ship. which, ex-
perts say, is entirely an experiment
and unsuited for anything except
practice.
Great Britain has three airplane
carriers in commission and three
under construction.
Japan has one airplane carrier
in commission, is converting TWO
battle cruisers into airplane car
riers, and has two entirely new air
plane carriers building, making
total Of five.
The United States has two battle
cruisers undergoing conversion into
airplane carriers, but due to re.
stricted budget arrangements they
cannot be completed before 1926.
In addition to the scout cruisers
Great Britain has sixteen flotilla
leaders in commission and two
building. The United States has
none. These are extremely large
destroyers with large guns and
great speed.
In destroyers the United States
leads on paper. She has 20S de-
stroyers, but los of this lot are out
of commission and many are OBJ
solete.
Great Britain has 10 destroyers
and eight building. Practically all
of them are in commission.
Japan has fifty.eight modern de-
stroyers In commission and Is con-
structing twenty-eight more.
Has 14 Submarines.
Great Britain has ninety-three
submarines and eight building.
Among them are cruising and mine
laying submarines.
The United States has 104 sub.
marines, but this includes all of
the obse' etc type. such as the s
ships. The budget bureau struck
off the allowance for the cruising
and mine.laying submarines plan.
ned by the navy and on which
construction Is actually under way.
Japan has twenty-four submarines
In commission and is building thirty
two more, these latter to be of
the most modern type.