Her next class was that of the Canopus—­the Goliath, Vengeance, Ocean, Albion, and Glory—­2,000 tons lighter than the first class named above, but more modern in equipment and construction, having been built between the years 1900 and 1902.  Their motive power was heavier, being 13,500 horsepower, and their speed was almost a knot faster.  Increase in the power of naval guns had made unnecessary any increase in the thickness of their armor, and consequently ranged from 6 to 12 inches in thickness.  Their armament was about the same as that of the older class, but each carried two more torpedo tubes.

[Illustration:  GERMAN AND ENGLISH NAVAL POSITIONS]

Discussion in naval circles throughout the world turned then to the question of whether it were better to build heavier ships with heavier armament, or to build lighter and faster ships designed to “hit and get away.”  The British authorities inclined toward the former view, and between 1901 and 1904 the British navy was augmented with the Implacable, London, Bulwark, Formidable, Venerable, Queen, Irresistible, and Prince of Wales—­each of the heretofore unheard-of displacement of 15,000 tons.  In spite of their size they were comparatively fast, having an average speed of 18 knots; they did not need, and were not equipped with heavier armor, having plates as thin as 3 inches and as thick as 12.  They were built to “take punishment,” and therefore they had no greater armament than the vessels previously named.  The naval program of 1903 and 1904 also included the Duncan, Albemarle, Russell, Cornwallis, and Exmouth, each 1,000 tons lighter than the ships of the Implacable type, but with the same equipment, defensive and offensive, and of the same speed.  And in the same program, as if to offset the argument for heavier and stronger ships, there were included the lighter and faster ships, Swiftsure and Triumph, displacing only 11,500 tons, but making 19 knots.  Their speed permitted and necessitated lighter armor—­10 inches through at the thickest points—­and their armament was also of a lighter type, for their four largest guns were capable of firing 10-inch shells.

Germany was becoming a naval rival worthy of notice, and the insular position of England came to be a matter of serious concern by 1906.  Britain has never considered the building of land forts for her protection—­her strength has always been concentrated in floating war machines.  She now began to build veritable floating forts, ships of 16,350 tons displacement.  By the end of 1906 she had ready to give battle eight ships of this class, the King Edward VII, Commonwealth, Dominion, Hindustan, Africa, Hibernia, Zealandia, and Britannia.  Speed was not sacrificed to weight, for they were given a speed of 18.5 knots, developed by engines of 18,000 horsepower.  Their thinnest armor measured 6 inches, and their heavy guns were protected with plates 12 inches thick.  The 12-inch gun was still the heaviest piece of armament in the British navy, and these eight ships each carried four of that measurement, as well as four 9.2-inch guns, ten 6-inch guns, fourteen rapid-fire guns of 3 inches, two machine guns, and four torpedo tubes.