Costliest of all armaments are battle ships. Increase in their size means the expansion of expenditure by geometrical progression—for bigger battleships not only need larger crews and more fuel and carry mightier guns firing more expensive ammunition, but they also require bigger docks for refits and repairs.
A battleship exceeding the present standardized maximum of 35,000 tons by 20 per cent. would cost 50 per cent. more to build—an increase from £8,000,000 to £12,000,000—and its upkeep would rise in like proportion.
Competition in battleship-building thus becomes a strain which no Power can stand for long. The temptation is strong to use these high-priced instruments before they become obsolete.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.