STRENGTH OF NAVIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18703, 8 May 1924, Page 9

STRENGTH OF NAVIES.

FIVE , GREAT POWERS.

JAPAN TAKING THE LEAS

NEW AMERICAN DATA.

VESSELS BEING BUILT. ESTIMATE OF TONNAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 9.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. WASHINGTON, May 6. Some interesting data concerning the present naval building of the Powers in relation to the Washington Treaty will be. presented by the Congressional Committee which is ' investigating the strength of the United States Navy. The President, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, is reported to have denied the allegation that the latter is deteriorating. The data shows that Japan's programme is the greatest, especially in high-speed light cruisers and destroyers. The following are the figures given as representing the estimated tonnage of ships which the five principal Powers are building with the proportion of light cruisers and destroyers in each case: — Light C raisers Buildinff , and Tonnaxo. Destroyers. Tons. Britain .. 116,440 71,000 United States 64.496 45,000* Japan . . 178,065 133,000 France .." 71,748 54,986 ■ Italy . . 11,200 ll,2oot•Cruisers only. troy era only. The committee states that the main competition involves light cruisers in which both Britain and the United States are deficient. Britain is the only Power which is building dreadnoughts. These figures will be used to, convince Congress of the necessity for appropriating funds to build the eight 10,000-ton cruisers which have been proposed.