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Show JjtPl IS BMilG SUPER-BAJTLESHIP Nipponese Are Constructing Type That Outclasses American Vessels. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. Jaj.an is building a larger, more powerful and swifter battleship than any built or planned for the America n navy, Hear Admiral Badger of the general board today told the houne naval committee, explaining tho board's recommendation for larger ships in 1 ho 1018 programme.! The Japanese ehip, he t?aid, will have a main battery of twelve 15 -in eh or JG inch gunSj against twelve 3 4-inch on American vessels now building, and eight 16-ineh for ships authorized last i year. The characteristics of battleships pro-j posed by the general board, Admiral Balger said, called for twelve 1 6 -in eh guns, a speed of twenty-iivc knots und a displacement of 40.000 tons. The tendency ten-dency abroad, he 8a id, was toward heavier, stronger, faster ships, and the navy must keep abreast of that movement. move-ment. Admiral Badger and Kear Admiral Fletcher, also attached to the general board, agreed that speed in excens of twenty-three knots was not desirable at this time, as it would increase the size of ships without giving any substantial sub-stantial added advantage. Members of the committee questioned the two admirals as to the value of heavy armor for battleships in tho light of naval engagements or the present, war. Tho officers agreed that an armored ar-mored ship had tho best chance to survive, sur-vive, and pointed out that the British battleship Warspite had facet! the fire of the German fleet in tho .hitland fight without being sent to tho bottom, as were lighter armored ships. 1 Before the naval committee adjourned Admiral Badger was asked if he did not think the interests of the Pacific, coast would be better served if the navy department, de-partment, instead of maintaining the armored cruiser fleet there, commissioned commis-sioned the reserve battleships and kept them in Pacific waters. Tho admiral said he favored it porsonnlly. but added it was a question for the department to decide. |