NEW NAVIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1921, Page 5

NEW NAVIES.

THE BIGGEST FLEET. AMERICA’S PROGRAMME. MARGIN OF SUPERIORITY, • By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright London, Feb. 19. The Times’ naval correspondent supplies an important analysis of the effect on American shipbuilding of the Congress amendment limiting the expenditure to warships under construction. He disputes the present idea that this applies to the capital ships of the 1916 programme and says the keels of all six battleships are in position, thus assuring the American navy a preponderance in ships of the latest and most powerful type. Indeed, unless Britain undertakes immediate big ship construction America’s >1916 programme will give her incomparably the biggest navy in the world. The first four battleships are already far advanced and, according to reliable information here, work on the remaining six battleships and six battlecruisers is in full swing, and all will be completed by 1924. Then America will have 12 post-Jutland capital ships, whilst the only comparable vessel in Britain’s navy will be the Hood. The reduction in America’s naval personnel leaves the following figures: America 131,751; Britain 131,1'60.

The correspondent does not suggest there should be a decision regarding naval policy until the June Conference, but significantly remarks that there is a vast difference between pre-Jutland and post-Jutland ships, indeed it is argued the difference is similar to that between Dreadnoughts and pre-Dread-noughts.

It is calculated America will have 285 destroyers and Britain 193, but Britain will have 105 modern submarines and America 94.—Times.