The New York herald., 1867-04-24

IA - 4S4 - Sse AsAA =
Prussia Ambitious Of Becoming = Naval
Power.
Prussia is not content with having suddenly
risen to its high rank as military nation.
II aspires to become also naval Power.
Its only coast line is on the Baltic, and extends
but Eve hundred and fifteen miles. The sea
being shallow near the coast, and full Of shift
ing sand banks, there are but few good har-
bors, except Stralsund, Colberg and 'Dantzic.
Yet the coasting and foreign commerce carried
ON from the twenty ports on the Baltic, Of
which Dantsic, Pillau, Elbing, MemeL Stral-
sund and Stettin are the most important had
been largely developed before the recent
war, and the inland navigation trade OF
Prussia with its river systems, and Win
it, numerous artificial water courses, had be-
come very considerable. The commercial
marine, including river steamers, increased
from 953 vessels, of 278,250 tons, in 1864,
to 1895 vessels Of 339,442 tons on January
l, 1861, and tho number Of steamers from
twenty-nine to eighty-fve within the same
KOAsVNs AnO kosO VI AACkO1co hD0 CAAAS~ 49,
proportionately rapid. But bureaucratism has
no doubt checked instead Of encouraged the
development Of tho commercial marine Of
Prussia, if we may judge by curious example
Of its interference with inland navigation
cited by our Berlin correspondent. The ordi-
nance regulating the river transports on the
Upper Oder requires the locks to be closed at
certain period Of the winter and to be re-
opened on the lst of April. This year the ex-
traordinary rise of the water, the floating ice
and the swell of waves are endangering some
seventy river transports at Oderberg, the cap
tains of which are compelled to run the risk of
total loss because the lock master, adhering
stoutly to the printed regulations, refuses to
let them pass below, where they would be in
complete safety. In their distress the captains
have petitioned the Minister of Commerce for
an order from him to the lock master; but it is
doubtful whether Mr.. Won Itzenplitz will grant
it, or, if he does, whether it will not be too
late, inasmuch as winds and waves are not in
the habit of dancing attendance in the ante
chambers of Minister of State.
The Prussian navy, which was in its infancy in
1861, consisting of only fftJ1ve vessels, car
rying two hundred and sixty-fve guns, has
not since been greatly increased. But our
Berlin correspondent announces on good au-
thority that the Prussian government intends to
lay before the North German Parliament
detailed memorial respecting the necessity of
powerful federal navy, and to apply for the
means to purchase several Monitors, steam
frigates and corvettes from the United States
government The Prussian battalion Of fmarines
is to be increased forthwith to regiment, and
the whole naval establishment augmented in
proportion. Two new screw corvettes Of
twenty-eight guns each are to be built this
year in the docks Of Dantxic, and number
of heavy guns for the Naval Department have
been completed and delivered at the arsenal,
being partly intended for Prussian Monitors
and partly for strand batteries. Prussia has,
moreover, ordered for her own account
Monitor of the largest size, to be built
in the United States, and Captain Werner,
of the Royal navy, has been sent over to super
intend the finish of the work. Negotiations
are pending with great shipbuilding firm in
Glasgow for similar purpose. According
to our advices from China to the 18th of
February, the navy of Prussia has already
signified its vitality in far distant seas. AT
that date Q Prussian war vessel was in
port at Shanghae, the naval visit having
for its object the attainment of q strip of
land on the island of Formosa for the use
of the Berlin government. Our Berlin CORE
ment of navy for nation of thirty millions
can only be the work Of years, and that for q
long period the German feet must remain far
inferior to the fleets Of other European Powers,
whose annual marine budgets show such
stately figures for 1865 as Russia, twenty
nine millions France, forty-three and a half
millions, and England, sixty-seven millions,
while the highest figure that Prussia thinks of
proposing for the present does not exceed ten
million thalers.
If the navies and armies of Europe should
be engaged in general war, the first per-
ceptible effect on this side of the Atlantic
might be only sligh, fluctuations in the price of
gold. But what food of consequences
would soon ensue Judging by what England
gained to our loss during the four years Of
our civil war, and by what the North itself
gained in the prodigous development OF in
dus.ry, wealth and power, the results of
European war would be immensely to our
material advantage. What an impulse would
be given to American production and manu-
factures, to our export trade, to the value Of
United States securities abroad. to immigra-
tion-in . word, to the handspring Of every
form Of national prosperity The great Euro
pean steamship lines, such as the Messageries
Imperiales Of France, the Austrian Lloyds, the
Peninsular and Oriental the Cunard, the
Inman, the National Steam Navigation, and
ALI the other lines, together with the entire