Much interest has been aroused in this country over the Japanese naval building programme which calls for the construction of eight superdreadnoughts and eight battle cruisers—the eight- eight programme it is termed, says the Washington correspondent' of the "New York Times." Information at hand shows that the battle cruisers of the Akagi and the Amagi type, are to be smaller by more than 3.060 tons than the American dreadnought battle cruiser Saratoga and lier class.
The Akagi and the Amagi are in a class of four under construction, the other being the Atago and the Atako. Four similar vessels are Projected, Figures obtainable show the following comparative measurements of the Akagi class with the Saratoga class Akagi class—full load displacement, 40,000 tons; speed, 30 knots per hour; main battery, eight 16- inch guns; shaft horsepower not definitely known. One report is that the shaft horsepower is 250,- (00, but this is not believed, as the larger vessels of the Saratoga class are to be faster than the Akagi class with much less horsepower than 250,000.
Saratoga class—full load dis placement, 43,500 tons: speed, 33.25 knots per hour: main battery, eight 16-inch guns: shaft horsepower, 180,000.
The Japanese dreadnoughts. Negato and Mutsu are compared with the ships of the American Colorado class in that they are of the same classification and almost of assize. The Japanese vessels will have a slight advantage over the Colorado class displacement and more than two knots better speed. The comparison follows:
Colorado—Full load displace trent, 33,590; speed, 21 knots; main battery, eight 16-inch guns.
Negato and Mutsu—Full load cement, 33,800: speed, 23.5; eight 16-inch guns.
The Japanese vessels are supposed fo be four-turbine ships The Negato was launched on Nov. 16. 1919. The Mutsu was launched on May 31, 1990. The material for two other vessels of this class is being assembled. 'Four others are scheduled for completion in 1929. Of the battle cruisers of the eight-ight programme two are being built to be completed by 1923, two others have been authorized and four are projected. These last mean' six should be completed 1927.
Navat STRENGTH tu 1923.
A comparison of the United States and Japanese battle fleets in 1923 will show the following United States—Battleships, 1 id-inch guns, 81; 16-inch guns, 104; displacement, 624,074 tons.
ttle cruisers, 6; 14-inch guns, 30; 16-inch guns, 48; displacement, 261,000 tons.
Total weight of broadside fire of American battle ornisers, 98,304 pounds.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.