NAVAL POWERS OF THE WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12071, 15 September 1902, Page 3

NAVAL POWERS OF THE WORLD.

GREAT BRITAIN EASILY FIRST. Great Britain easily tot, France a poor second, Germany and Russia about even, with the United States and otter Powers scarcely in the race, is a fair estimate of the comparative .strength of these Powers 011 the

I seas, as drawn from recent reports received \ at the United Navy State? Navy Depart- , ment upon the building programmes of ! foreign navies. j Great Britain is stronger, according to exj pert opinion, than France and Russia comi bined, with strength still to spare. With Germany thrown into the alliance, and ! Japan added to Great Britain on the seas j the latter would easily surpass the combined strength of the three greatest Continental naval Powers to-day. Italy, it is said, might be added to the alliance, and j vet Great Britain and Japan might whip ' all four nations on the seas. With the S United States a third party, the experts in ! Great Britain say, the alliance could whip ! the rest of the navies of the world. ! This comparison is bawd <vi the ships comj pit-Ted and under construction. The United States' position, according to foreign estij mates, should now be as mar Fiance as that j of either Germany or Russia, both of which have made great, strides in late years in naval expansion. What each Government is doing toward increasing her navy is given in official records as follows: — FRANCE (STILL SECOND. France's ;**■■_• ran uric <-:' increase is second to that of *.-at Britain. France probably will continue to be the second mistress of the seas for many years, although, according to Lord Brassey, she is not miking such an advance as her position calls for. At present she his building three battleships, each of 14.865 tons displacement, and three of the same type of more than 12.000 tons displacement. Her power, however, lies in her armoured cruisers, of which class she has under construction: a number almost equalling that of Great Britain. Five of this class are of 12.550 tons, one of more than 11,000 tons. j five of 10,014 tons, and six ranging down to j 77C0 tons. She has also two protected cruisers under construction. 24 destroyers of j 303 tons each, and about 50 other torpedo I boat craft of less than 100 tons. The French programme contemplates that 37 vessels will be laid during the present year. These are to be four battleships of 14.C65 tuns eaoh; two armoured cruisers. each of 12,559 tons; two destroyers, each of 505 tons : 16 first-class torpedo boats, and 13 submarine boats. At the end of the present year there will be under construction in all for the French navy US vessels. GERMANY'S STRIDES. Germany is fallowing a programme of increase agreed on some years ago, and designed to place her ahead of Russia, and the United States in amount of tonnage. Her fighting ships now building comprise four 1,3.000 "ton battleships, live 11.500 ton vessels of the same class, and two of 11,150 tons: four armoured cruiser of heavy displacement, and a dozen protected cruisers also being a part of her increase plan. Germany is also building a number of gunboats and torpedo boat craft. Her navy has made very rapid progress, and is creating a. large means for future extension. The Emperor seems to be accomplishing his purpose to lift his country to a notable place among the maritime Powers. When it comes to Great Britain' stupendous plan of naval increase that of all other nations looks small in comparison. To maintain a naval force equal to that of any other two naval, nations combined. Great Britain is forced to expend millions of pounds sterling annually mi new ships. Three battleships of 16.500' tons, five of 15,000 tons, and six of 14,000 tons, comprise her great fleet of battleships now under construction. Of the armoured cruiser class she is building 24. ranging from 14,100 tons displacement down to 9800 tons. These vessels are of the highest type. Of the protected cruiser class she is building only six, and. of the gunboat class a score or more, while her torpedo beat increase is limited to half-a-dozen and her submarine boats to about the same number.

ITALY IS BRACING UP. After many years of inactivity Italy has begun to revive her naval efHciencv, and has

now building seven first-class battleships. Sin; is also building a large armoured cruiser and a number of other classes' of war vessels. Japan's navy is growing rapidly, and includes now* under construction a first-class battleship and a large number of cruisers and torpedo-boat (run, A new programme of expansion recently agreed on provides for four battleships of 15.000 tons each, and two armoured cruisers of 8900 lens each, and a number of smaller cruisers. Russia is building live 12.000 ton battleships, five of 13,516 tons, and seven vawhiff from 12.000 tons to 5000 tons. In addition there are 30 cruisers under construction, and a. number of miscellaneous vessels, including a large iieet of torpedo boats. Spain is beginning to show signs of some naval activity. It lias been recommended by a, special board that provision should be made for laying the keels of 12 battleships, four armoured cruisers, and a number of other ships. Some of her ships now buildhave been on the ways for morn than 10 years, and are yet far from completed. What .the other governments aie doing toward their naval strength is insignificant, compared to the strides that the' leading Powers are making, although there is no nation with a. seacoa^t, making any pretence to supporting a. naval establishment, that is not building some type of warship, Argentina's naval increase proposed, but not. yet ordered, consists of two armoured cruisers of 8500 ions. AUSTRIA TO SPEND NEARLY TWO MILLIONS.

Austria proposes expending on her nan this yea? £1,890,000, which does not include payments mm vessels now building. These consist of I wo battleships of 10,600 tons each, three of 8540 tons, and an armoured cruiser of 7400 ions, a protected cruiser of 2350 tons, and some small river boats. She is adding also to her naval equipment bv the construction of a 15.000-ton floating dry* dock, which is to be built at Pola. Brazil is devoting some attention to the question of the submarine boat, but. aside from [his class, is making no provision for ships. Chili, the most progressive naval nation in Soul America, has ordered two battleships to be constructed in England, each to cost, armed and equipped, about 5,000,000 dollars, They are to be powerful craft, 'and will have engines to develop 25,000 horsepower and capable of 21 knots. ' Each ship is to carry four IC-in guns, 15 7.5 in guns, aud many smaller rapid fire guns. Even Mexico is building a navy.