THE WORLD'S NAVIES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 24 June 1901, Page 4

THE WORLD'S NAVIES.

Present Relative Positions of the Powers.

A roturn of the fleets of the great naval powers has just been issued (says the London Daily Mail of the 25th April) which gives some rough idea as to how England stands. The figures are these for the most important classes :

Prance 22 United States 8 The English strengh is, however, swollen by many ships which in any foreign navy would be considered worthless and obsolete. For example, of our battleships, ten are armed with antiquated muzzle-loading guns, fit only for the museum.. Five of these ships are thirty years or more old, though in Germany every ship is reckoned obsolete when she is more than twenty-five years old.

The return docs not, of course, include this year's building proposals, or mention the British submarines that the Admiralty has decided upon.

Battleships Built Building England ... 50 16 France ... 28 5 Russia ... 15 10 Germany ... 19 10 Ttaly ... ... 15 6 United States .,. ... " 7 11 Japan ... 6 1 Armourod Cruisers. Built and Building England ... ... 29 France 22 Russia 12 Germany ... 7 Italy 6 Japan 7 United States •.. 11 Protected Cruisers. Built and Building England ... 107 France 40 Russia 14 Germany ... 22 Italy ... . 16 Japan 16 Torpedo Craft. Built and Building England ... ,. 247 France 316 Russia 223 Germany ... 169 Italy ... 163 United Statos . 49 Japan 92 Submarines.