BRITAIN'S SEA POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 198, 25 September 1909, Page 4

BRITAIN'S SEA POWER.

FIVE YEARS' DECLINE. Some remarkable facts concerning the naval decline of Great Britain since S' r John Fisher became First Sea Lord are given in an article appearing in the current issue of the National Review. "Navalis." the writer, points out that, the British Estimates for 1900-10 are four and a-half millions lower than they were in 1004, while Germany's expendi ture in the same period has doubled. "In the present year." he says, "tlic British outlay on new construction and guns for new ships is less than that of Germany. And the Sea Lords remain in office - ! . . . The great naval displays organised by the Admiralty wi'l deceive no observer abroad. Tho Briti-.'.i Fleet, imposing enough on paper and in reality to-day, will be no longer capable of commanding the sea three yoais hence."

It is shown that in 1904 the British Fleet was four times as strong as the German. To-day, after five years of Sir John_ Fisher's Sea Lordship, "we stand about as four to three." The dire story of the "Surrenders of the Sea Lords"—as the article is called —is shown fully in the following figures I dealing with ships less than ten years j launched : WHEN SIR J. FISHER TOOK OFFICE—IOO4. British. German. King Edward and Ncl- | son battleships ..10 0 Others 30 18 Armored cruisers .. J7 7 Other cruisers .. .. 48 25 Destroyers .. ..140 43 AFTER FIVE YEARS OF SIR J. FISHER'S POLICY-lDOii. British. German, Dreadnought battleships 10 13 Others 19 15 Armored cruisers -,. 37 9 Other cruisers .. .. 28 20 Destroyers .. ~90 S4 GUNS MOUNTED IN BATTLESHIP'S. 1904. Tl. 1909. Tl. British -.. 082 British .. 472 German .. 304 German .. 590