Oct. 8.
The revised edition of the table
issued by the Navy League, but: of Dreadnoughts of the World compiled by Mr. Alan Burgoyne, is of more than usual interest this year owing to the war. The ae. curacy of Mr. Burgoyne's figures is beyond reproach and all those interested in Navy affairs are indebted to him for the work which for the past six years he has given to us. It appears that no fewer than 172 Dreadnoughts are now built, building, or projected, for the fourteen countries which have adopted this class of vessel in their navies. Only eighty-four, however, or less than half the number, are completed ships. As regards the relative strength of the Powers, Great Britain stands first with twenty-nine completed ships, Germany second with seventeen, and America and France tie for third place with ten each. Japan has five, Italy four, Austria three, and Spain, Brazil and Argentina two each. It will thus be seen that Great Britain's total is above a two-Power standard, calculated in reference to the next strongest Powers, and is also above the total of the former Triple Alliance. Taking uncompleted ships into account, however, we lave forty-six, as against the thirty of the next two strongest Powers—which happen to be Germany and France—while the totals for Germany (28), Italy (10), and Austria (8) make equality with that of Great Britain. In regard to the standard of sixty per cent. superiority over Germany, this is also shown by the table to have been maintained up to the present time, Whether all ships or only. com. Pleted ships are considered. compared with Germany's seven. teen completed vessels, we re. quire twenty-seven and have twenty-nine, including the Australia; and as compared with her twenty-eight vessels built, build. ing, or authorized, we require forty-five and have forty-six. There is more than cause for satisfaction that the figures show our position to be a fairly good
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.