Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
World Cruiser Situation

has 16 of 13s,37e and italy has 20
cruisers of l27,370 tons grand total
The United States possesses the old
est cruiser of any of the major ma
tions, the U. S. s. Rochester, which
was laid down in 1890 and completed
in 1893. She is of $3.50 tons diSplace-
ment. The u. S. S. Olympia, laid down
in 1891 and completed in 1894, noted as
Deweys flagship at the battle of Manila
Bay is still on the roster of American
naval ships. She Is of 1856 tons dis
| placement.
The oldest cruiser the British navy
now has in commission is the H. M. S.
Dartmouth, which was laid down In
1910 and completed year later. She
is of $3.50 tons displacement. Japans
oldest cruiser is the Asama, of e,885
| tens, which was laid down in 1896 and
completed in 1899. Frances Oldest
cruiser is the Jeanne dare, of 1925
tons. which was laid down in 1895 and
completed in 1903 Italy's oldest cruiser
is the Ferruccio, laid down in 1899. with
a displacement of 1924 tons, and COM
pleted in 1904
From 1905 to 1918 the United States
Navy laid down not a single cruiser of
any kind, while the navies of Great
Britain, Japan. France ana italy all
constructed cruisers during that period
Cruisers of the Second Line.
Cruisers of the second line that are
over 20 years CT age appear in the fol-
lowing lineup: United States, %;
British Empire, none: Japan, 8: France,
6, and Italy, /. Calling the roll of these
ships, one finds that American cruisers
| over 20 years of age are the Rochester,
| OLYMPIA, New Orleans, Albany, Cleve-
| land, Denver, Des Moines, Chattanooga,
Frederick, Galveston, Huntington, Pitts
burgh, Pueblo, Charleston, st. Louis,
| Seattle, Huron, Birmingham, Charlotte
| York, MiSSoula and Salem. These vet
cram cruisers have played colorful part
! in American history and have witnessed
the advance of the Nation they serve to
a position of premier world Importance
American naval officers insist that
the bill to authorize construction of IL
cIuisers-the measure that is The un-
finished business of the Senate-is g
replacement program to permit retire.
ment Of these antiquated vessels of an.
other generation that are still doing
service. The Is new cruisers, if au.
| thoriZed. will replace Is of the % vet
Gran cruisers. the naval officers say.
| The tonnage of these secCnd-line
cruisers shows that the % of the United
States total 179 AIS tons. the of Japar
total II ABA tons, the of France tota
64,770 and 1talys lone veteran cruiser
has a displacement of 1924 TONS
Has Two Aircraft Carriers.
Examination of the construction thai
/ has gone forward since the Washington
Arms Conference shows that the United
States has built 2 aircraft carriers
the u. S. S. Lexington and Saratoga
the cruisers mentioned above, sub
marines of all classes and the rive
gunboats that are doing duty in China
Great Britain's construction of nava
craft since February. 1922. when tn,
Limitation Conference convened in
GLIDING the whole of the British EN-
pire, shows that battleships have beer
laid down, the Nelson and the Rodney
completed in 1927 and specifically pro
vided for under the Washington nava
pact: 2 aircraft carriers II cruisers,
mine layer, 20 destroyers of all classes
q submarines Of all classes, 4 gunboatS
river gunboats, 2 submarine tender
and mine Sweepers.
Figures for Japan show that since tn
Arms Conference here aircraft car
! riers have been laid down, 10 cruisers
2 mine layers, 81 destroyers OF al
classes 33 submarines of all classes,
gunboats, river gunboats min
) sweepers, submarine tenders, tank
ers, 2 avier-than-aircraft tenders,
supply ship and auxiliaries and mis-
cellaneous.
Frances naval construction since tn
Washington naval pact comprises l air
!, craft carrier, 8 cruisers. l mine layer
J Al destroyers of all classes, 81 sub
. marines of all classes. ? gunboats,
J river gunboat, submarine tender,
: ltankers and heavier-than-a ircrat
tender
} Italys construction consists OF