AMERICAN NAVY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1673, 10 February 1917, Page 4

AMERICAN NAVY.

SOME BIG WARSHIPS. UNCLE SAM’S DREADNOUGHTS The two coast lines of the United States form a tremendous responsibility for any authority charged with the problem of national defence, not only by reason of their great extent, but because of the numerous great ports which form the gateway of the country, and as the United States has bordered upon no formidable enemy by land, but lias faced across the sea the menace of a perhaps unrecognised, but certainly formidable danger, its army has been comparatively small, but its navy never large enough to satisfy those who were not “antipreparedness cranks.” It has taken the European war to shake the nation from its sleep; and with characteristically violent reaction it has lately embarked upon the greatest naval construction programme ever devised for a nation not at war. As the work contemplated in this programme has scarcely. if at all, been broached, none of it is likely to figure in the present war if the United States is forced to take up the role of belligerent. If that should happen, it is very probable that for some time at least the available energy of the country’s yards and arsenals will be concentrated upon existing ships completed or being completed, to the exclusion of new units (save the smaller types and auxiliaries). For the purposes of a review, having regard to the present war, it is therefore necessary only to consider the United States fleet as it now exists. AMERICA'S PROBLEMS. A modern navy is a peculiar organic structure. Although it inherits many traditions from the days of wooden walls and muzzleloading guns, it retains nothing of the old and stable structure of the sailing fleets. The adoption of steam, of armour, and of rifled guns brought in an era of rapid and increasing change, which, affects size, type, and tactics; and even strategy has been deeply modified. In only two ways can a navy develop —by following up experiences of war, either of its own or of another power, or by the application of theory. Both methods usually operate; but theory Ims had the greatest influence for some generations up till the present, though such historical events as the Russo-Japan-ese war have left enduring marks upon the fleets of the world. The navy of the United States has developed strongly on the theoretical side; and those who examine its proportions by European standards and note its deficiencies in certain arms, especially in the swifter classes, such as battle-cruisers and light cruisers, have to bear in mind that the American naval mind is occupied with problems differing widely from (hose of the great European naval Powers. The best way to survey a navy is first to number its classes, making these fairly broad. Thus we find in the United States navy the following groups: — Two battleships with twelve 14inch and twenty-two 5-inch guns; five with ten 14-inch and twentyone 5-inch guns. Two battleships with twelve 12-inch and twenty-one 5-incb guns. Four with ten 12-inch and fourteen or sixteen 5-inch guns. Two with eight 12-inch and twentytwo 3-inch guns. The above ships are all of the Dreadnought era, and the two last-named eight-gun ships were actually designed before the epoch-making British ship. Moreover, all the American Dreadnoughts have had their guns on the centre-line, and so began the system which every other navy, after experimenting with other arrangements, has since adopted. Eleven battleships with four 12inch. eight 8-inch, and twelve 7inch or b-inch, and numerous smaller guns. Three with four 12-inch and sixteen (5-inch guns. Nine other battleships, all over 20 years old since laying down, armed with 12inch or 13-inch (old type) guns, with numerous other guns up to 8inch, but of comparatively small fighting value. Eight coast defence monitors, carrying two or four 10-inch or 12ineh guns. Four large armoured cruisers, with four 10-inch, sixteen (5-ineh, and about thirty smaller guns. Six with four 8-inch, fourteen fi-ineh, and numerous smaller guns. Three large lightly-armoured cruisers, with fourteen (5-inch and THERE IS ONLY ONE SANDER EXTRACT, and that is why the people insist on getting it, and why they reject the many inferior substitutes and the cheap and frequently harmful “just as goods.” The GENUINE SANDER EXTRACT is free from the objectionable qualities of the common eucalyptus oils and the socalled “extracts.” SANDER’S EXTRACT is the most powerful antiseptic and healing remedy that can be used with safety; it prevents and cures all infectious diesase —influenza, colds, fevers, smallpox, diphtheria, •flatulence, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, dysentery and kidney troubles. SANDER’S EXTRACT, applied to ulcers, burns, sprains, cuts, inflamed and itching skin, gives instant relief and cures permanently. Three drops in a teaspoonful of cod liver oil is a specific in all chronic lung affections. Rheumatism, neuralgia and toothache are quickly dispelled by it. 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numerous smaller guns. Two others, with guns up to 8-inches. All of these armoured cruisers are over 10 years old. Twelve protected cruisers, with 5-inch, (5-inch, or 7-inch guns; all old ships. Three scouts (24 knots) lightly armed. About seventy destroyers of .various types, including a considerable number of fast crafts of 750 to 1,100 tons; about twenty torpedoboats. About forty submarines, of which onlv three are understood to be ocean-going craft. WHAT AN ANALYSIS WOULD SHOW. The above are the fighting units of the fleet, hut an analysis would show that many of the pre-Dread-nought battleships, the cruisers, and probably some of the torpedo-boats and submarines, have seen their best days. The fieet is singularly lacking in fast cruisers, and lias no battle-cruisers at all. The battlecruiser was long an unpopular type in America, and only reached any place in popular or official esteem when the British and German ships of that kind had greatly distinguished themselves. But among the later heavy ships, the United States possesses some very fine fighting machines, which are extremely heavily armoured, and carry a new gun (14inch) of remarkable power, at least equal to that of the British 16.5inch, and perhaps greater. THE SHIPS TO COME. The United States has always had a tendency to pride itself upon having “the biggest” of everything; and publicly is very proud of its newest ships, and possibly even prouder of those to come. It is forecasted that the new hattle-crui-sers designed to be built under the new programme will beat anything which lias yet shown its teetli in war’. These ships will he 874 ft. long, displace nearly 35,000 tons, and have a speed of 35 knots; and they will carry ten 14-inch guns of the latest and most powerful type. In the words of the Scientific American, these ship.., some of which should be finished in about three years, will “have the length of the largest trans-Atlantic liners, tbo speed of the fastest destroyers, and the gun-power of a modern battleship.”