THE GREAT NAVAL POWERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16234, 20 May 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GREAT NAVAL POWERS.

Will the present war result "in the near future in a change in the relative naval strength of- the great Powers? The question is of enormous importance to the small as well as to the "powerful nations of the world, and the possibility of such a change- is suggested' by statements recently made before the House Naval Committee of the United States. It was claimed.that the United .'States fleet as organised, is as good as .any .fleet of equal size, and could only be routed by a navy superior in numbers; that the" navy is prepared, as far as its power will permit; but that the country "needs a greater navy and more power for the possibilities of present international conditions. Rear-Admiral Badger, of the United States Naval General Board, expressed the opinion that "the United States is a good third in naval power, and is onlv outranked by England and Germany. The United States and France are considered by some officers as about equal in naval power,"' and Admiral Badger is reported to have added. "Japan will have to do much before she get* anywhere near us as a first class naval Power." In considering this, question the following table, showing the position of the eight great Powers in their order of strength, as arranged by the late Mr. Fred T. Jane, at three periods during the past decade, will be of interest—

18C6-7. 1910. 1915. British British British United States German German French United States United States Japanese Japanese Japanese German French French Russian Italian Italian Italian Austro-Hun. Russian Austro-Hun. Russian Austro-Hun.