JAPAN'S NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 131, 26 February 1908, Page 4

JAPAN'S NAVY.

How does tlio enormous U.S.A. fleet; comparo .with the Japanese' Navy? . By May I9US-, the date of the arrival of .the American Floot at >San Francisco, Japan will have ready for _sea the following vessels:— Battleships (12)—Satsuma, Alii, Katori, Kashinla, Mikasa, Asalii, Shikishirna, Hizon.. Iriami, Sag.mii, Suno, Fuji. Armoured Cruisers (13) —Ibuki, Kuraraa, Tsukuba, Ikoma, Asp.ma, Tokina, Idzumo, luato, Adzuma, Yakmno, Kasuga, Nisshin, Aso. ' ' : ■ Tho first four of the armoured cruisers all carry 12-in. guns and aro virtually battleships of high speed. Tho first four of tho Japanoso battleships all carry eight ormoro heavy armour-piercing guns, and, with tho exception; of the Dreadnought and the two Nelsons, are the most .powerful ships ready for sea in any ileet in tho world. Some, indeed, consider tho Satsuma and Aki more powerful than the Dreadnought. Further, Japan has an enormous torpedo flotilla of 00 destroyers, which will all be ready for sea early next year; and 4U elfectivo torpedoboats, to say nothing of four sea-going submarines. Tho most doubtful feature in the Japanoso Fleet is tho number of captured lUlssiau ships. How ,fur these aro really effective no ono knows, hut Mr. Burgoyne, in tho "Navy Leaguq Annual," has recently given, somo facts which seem to show that tlioy aro now better-armed alid faster steamers than they were in tho'days when they in tho Russian Navy.