a Battle ships, first class, are those of (about) 10,000 tons or more displacement. Includes all unarmored cruising vessels above 1,000 tons displacement. Includes smaller battle ships and monitors. No more vessels of this class are being proposed or uilt by the great powers.

TABLE II.— Vessels building or to be built, November 1, 1907.

aEngland has no continuing shipbuilding policy, but usually lays down each year about four armored ships, with a proportional number of smaller vessels.

bTwo of these, the Mississippi and Idaho, are very nearly completed.

Germany has a continuing shipbuilding policy, authorized by the Reichstag, and extending to the year 1917. This authorization provides for the building between 1907 and 1917 of 16 battle ships, 12 armored cruisers, 22 smaller cruisers, and 132 torpedo vessels.

NOTE.-The following vessels are not included in the tables:

Those over 20 years old unless they have been reconstructed and rearmed since 1900. Transports, colliers, repair ships, converted merchant vessels, and any other auxiliaries.

Vessels of less than 1,000 tons, except torpedo craft. Torpedo craft of less than 50 tons.

In making comparisons of naval strength, and particularly of naval increase, the fact should be taken into consideration that the rapidity of construction varies materially in different countries.

In England, Germany, and Japan battle ships and armored cruisers are completed in two to three years; in the United States from three to four years; and in France, Italy, and Russia not less than four years are required.

Table II includes vessels authorized but not yet laid down, as well as those actually under construction.

a The United States now has, in addition, temporarily, as extra numbers, due to promotion for war service, 4 flag officers, 13 captains, and 14 commanders.

b Does not include midshipmen

Includes chief gunners, chief boatswains, chief signal boatswains, chief carpenters, chief artificer engineers, chief schoolmasters.

Includes 1,230 men of the naval infantry. The German naval infantry forms an expeditionary corps. Its duty in war is to defend, and in peace to garrison, the home fortified ports. One battalion forms the garrison of Kiauchau, China.

PROGRAMMES FOR 1908-9.

The programmes for 1908, as far as they have been determined or published, are as follows:

ENGLAND.

The programme for 1908 has not yet been published. Unofficial statements indicate that it will probably include the following:

Two battle ships (Dreadnought type).

Four medium-sized armored cruisers (improved Edgar type, foreshadowed last year).

One large ocean-going destroyer ("special" or Swift type).

Some ocean-going destroyers ("tribal" type).

ог

Two battle ships (improved Dreadnought type).

One armored cruiser (Inflexible type).

Two medium-sized armored (or protected) cruisers (improved Edgar type, as foreshadowed last year).

Six unprotected cruisers (or scouts, Boadicea type).

Twelve ocean-going destroyers.

A number of torpedo boats and submarines.

FRANCE.

The programme for 1908 is now being discussed in Parliament. The construction of six battle ships of 21,000 tons displacement and 20 knots speed is proposed, and appears to meet with general approval. Tentative designs for these ships are now being discussed.

GERMANY.

The programme of shipbuilding for the German navy is at present governed by the fleet law of 1900, amended in 1906.

This law establishes the total number of ships of each class which the navy is to contain when the authorized building programme shall have been carried out, and fixes the period within which each class of vessel shall be replaced, as follows:

A shipbuilding programme was accordingly established which contemplated the attainment of the authorized strength by the year 1920, as well as the building of substitutes for such existing ships as should reach the age limit during the period covered by the programme; the ships to be laid down were distributed over the years 1906-1917.

It is now proposed to amend this by reducing the age limit of battle ships from 25 to 20 years. This proposal has been approved by the federal council.

The reduction in the life of battle ships will necessitate the replacement of 3 more battle ships between 1908 and 1917 than is contemplated by the present system, i. e., a total of 16 ships. This brings about a rearrangement of the building programme, as shown by the following table.

It is to be noted, however (as shown in the table), that 16 ships having been provided for between 1908 and 1916, an additional ship is set down for 1917.

The immediate effect of the change is apparent from a glance at the table. During the four years beginning 1908 there will be laid down 11 battle ships instead of 6. Add to these the 2 ships of the 1907 programme, and it is seen that by 1914 (allowing three years to build battle ship) Germany will possess 13 battle ships of upward of 19,000 tons displacement each.

The entire programme, as amended by the proposed law, would be as follows:

The estimates for the coming year contemplate a total expenditure of over $82,000,000, of which one-half is for new ships and armaThis is a large increase over the current estimates, as shown

ments.

below:

Current estimates (1908) (required to carry out present law)..
Proposed amendment (1908) (required to carry out proposed law).

For ship construction and armament.

$32, 346, 580
41,613,208

This programme is now being considered by the Reichstag.

JAPAN.

Total.

$68, 272, 680 82,565, 944

The programme for 1908 has not been officially announced. Two battle ships of over 19,000 tons displacement are to be laid down in the near future, and the proposed building of two large armored cruisers (of more than 18,000 tons), together with very fast scouts, has been

reported, but not yet substantiated. It is also reported that other battle ships and armored cruisers in addition to those mentioned above are proposed for construction in 1908.

RUSSIA.

The new programme has not yet been announced. It is reported to include a number of the largest type of battle ships.

ITALY.

The estimates of the ministry of marine for the fiscal year 1908-9 provide for continuing or completing work on all ships now under construction, including the 16,000-ton battle ship authorized in 1907. It is proposed to build altogether four of the new type battle ship, together with six 28-knot scouts and a further addition to the torpedo flotilla.

NOTE.-The following vessels, which have been undergoing extensive reconstruction since the close of the Russian war, have been completed and fitted for service during the past year:

Mikasa, battle ship

Iwami (ex Orel), battle ship

Soya (ex Variag), cruiser.

Tons.

15, 200

13, 500 6,500

New construction completed during 1907.
Reconstruction completed during 1907...

Total tonnage added to Japanese navy during 1907.

35, 200

32, 375 35,200

67,575

The following table shows the vessels that have been under construction in the several countries during the past year: