BUILDING HER NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4472, 13 February 1917, Page 2

BUILDING HER NAVY.

' • '’; i ' AMERICA’S HUGE SHll’S It may bo interesting to know how I far, in tile event of war with Germany toe United Estates would be able to translate her indignation into deeas and protect her menaced mercantile .marine. 'the history of the United States navy before the war was one of decline irom the second to the fourth among nations. When the war broke out and nations not involved came to examine their own strength, the people of America awoke .wita a start to the fact that their fleet, was markedly inferior to that-of Germany. The staff of the navy had declared that 48 battleships, with. 102 destroyers and other ships in similar proportions, wore required to give safety against the navy of any Power other than Britain. The actual force of America was only 37 battleships and 68 destroyers. Instead of 100 submarines required, America had 59. Naturally the Americans were anxious, and it was pointed out that Germany Avon the United States would be entirely at her mercy, while if, even Germany wei'o defeated the position of the United States was humiliating.

GREAT SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMME Preparedness became the national cry, and there %vas satisfaction when Mr. Daniels, the responsible Minister, launched a great shipbuilding programme providing for the expenditure tiie next three years of £117,000,000 on 157 worships, including four dreadnoughts, •four battle cruisers, and other vessels in proportion. Toe battle cruisers planned Avere of 40,000 tons, with a speed of 35 knots and 16-inch guns having a range of 25,000 yards. At the end of last year the dreadnoughts in the American navy included the Michigan and South Carolina, 16,000 tons (completed in 1909); North Dakota and Delaivare, 20,000 tons (1910) ; Florida and Utah, 21,800 tons (1911); Wyoming and Arkansas, 26,000 tons (1912); and the following super-dreadnoughts : Texas and New York, 27,000 tons (1913-1.4) ; Nevada and Oklahoma, 27,000 tons (1915); and Arizona and Pennsylvania, 31,400 tons (1916);

Building were the super-dread-noughts Mississippi, Idaho, and New Mexico, each of 30,000 tons net, widen were expected' to be completed this year; the California and Tennessee (36,000 tons, to be finished next year; two battle cruisers (.unnamed), of 40. 000 tons,, a speed of 35 knots, and 8 14in. guns Avhich were expected to be completed in 1920, and two battleships (also unnamed), each of 36,000 tons, a speed of 21 knots, and 8 !6in. guns, which Avere expected to be delivered in 1920.

HEAVIEST GUNS IN THE WORLD

These 23' dreadnought battleships built or building, will g.vo th • United States 33 battleships and six battle cruisers when the programme is complete. They are to be fi - 1 in 36 months from date of lay;.. . ucv. a and in some cases 30 months. 'File 36,000 n battleships ivill mount the heaviest gun which is as yet definitely gun which is as yet definitely known to have been placed on board ship—a 45 calibre 16in. gun of about 110 tons weight. The battle-cruisers which will make their appearance for the first time in an American programme are to cost £4,000,000, apiece,, and Ayill be ships of enormous size, and, it is hoped, of unprecedented speed. The engines are to develop from 150,000_ to 200,000 horse-poAver, twice that or the British battle cruiser Tiger, and are to give a speed of 35 knots. The armament is not A - et settled. Tf they are to carry S 16in. guns a displacement of more than 40.000 tons will be required. _ The characteristics of the American battleships are their large displacements—tthev are the largest battleships in the world—their thick armour and their comparatively low speed. The latest of them do not steam more than 21 knots, Avhereas modern German battleships do at least 23 knots; and the Queen Elizabeths 25 knots. They are all equipped Avith curious basket work masts, which will stand heavv shell fire. Nos. 5-11 have four triple turrets and single funnels, and burn only oil in their furnaces, resembling in this the British Queen Elizabeth. , . Of pre-Dreadnoughts, the United States has 23, the majority of which have lost their fighting value. There are 15 armoured cruisers', but the only fast cruisers are three scouts which are hoav growing old.