Naval Strength of the Powers.^*

It may be as well, before going further, to make a rough comparison of the present and growing naval strength of the principal powers. Britain, of course, as yet occupies the pride of place, with warships of an aggregate measurement of 1,800,000 tons; represented principally by 66 battleships of all classes, 30 armoured cruisers, 87 protected cruisers, 258 torpedo boats and destroyers, and 51 submarines. These vessels may be taken to be in the highest state of efficiency, as they are always in commission, and generally at sea, or on active duty. Besides, this the prestige and traditions of the British navy help to make for increased efficiency.

France comes next, with some 630,000 tons of war-shipping, including 40 battleships, 25 armoured cruisers. 40 protected [unclear: cruise] 387 torpedo boats and destroyers, and 89 submarines. The French ships are considered by experts to be good ones, but their efficiency is questionable, as the ships, and of course the crews, are too often in harbour, and the vessels are not always in commission. It is some-what difficult, therefore, to form a fair estimate of their value as a fighting machine, as the French are not a sea-going nation.

Germany takes third place, with some 480,000 tons of war-vessels; including 31 battleships, 15 armoured cruisers, 13 protected cruisers, and 182 torpedo boats and destroyers. The German Navy's considered to he an extremely efficient one; and, as the Kaiser's building programme is being rapidly pushed on, its efficiency should page 5 be constantly increasing. Germany, however, has had little or no naval experience in actual warfare; and it is impossible, therefore, to forecast what the value of her navy as a fighting machine is likely to be.

Fourth on the list is the United States navy, with warships aggregating about 400,000 tons, principally made up of 28 battleships, 15 armoured cruisers, and 52 torpedo-boats and destroyers. The naval successes at Manilla and Santiago, gained by America in its recent war with Spain, would seem to show that the navy of the former power is thoroughly efficient and up-to date; although it must be confessed that the Spanish ships were ill-equipped, and out date.

America is at present, under the sagacious guidance of President Rooseevelt, entering upon a wider sphere of warship construction. Her latest effort is the building of a vessel of improved "Dreadnought" class, measuring 20,000 tons, and able to steam 21 knots an hour. The broadside fire of this leviathan will be 25 per cent, heavier than that of any other vessel at present afloat; and its estimated cost is £1,200,000.

Japan, with some 320,000 tons of war vessels, including 12 battleships, 27 armoured or protected cruisers, and 101 torpedo boats and destroyers, considering its size, probably possesses as nearly perfect a fighting machine as any that sails the waters. The crushing defeat inflicted by Admiral Togo upon the Baltic fleet in the great battle of Tsushima, tended to show that in fighting power, squadron for squadron, the Japanese Navy is not inferior to that of any other nation.