Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1919 — NO LONGER MISTRESS OF SEAS [ARTICLE]

NO LONGER MISTRESS OF SEAS

Great Britain's Supremacy Passing Into New Hands, Says Na- - val Experts In Great Britain fear is being felt that the trident of the ocean is passing into new hands. This at least is the note sounded by Archibald Hurd, the .naval expert, writing in the London Daily Telegraph. “It is an arresting fact,” he says, “that, judged by the strength of its ba t tie sq uadrons ~in active com mission, this country’s supremacy has at least temporarily passed away. “The United States has now in'commission 31 battleships, and Washingington plans to have 20 next year, the” reduction tn 'tfhmber being balanced by the increased power of some of the ships now approaching completion. “We have in a similar state of readiness 22 battleships and five cruisers, and, in accordance with the order published with reference to reduction to a reserve basis, our instantly ready battle force will fall at an early date to 1€ ships, 10 of them forming the Atlantic fleet and the other six cruising in the Mediterranean. It may be somewhat of an affront to our national pride that we should have reached this secondary position at sea.” Mr. Hurd consoles himself with the reflection that the British admiralty is saving money.