Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-15
Prussia as a Maritime Power.

The progress Of Prussia in her efforts
to create navy, and to place the North
German Confederation in the front rank
of naval powers, is something wonderful.
In addition to the fortified ports of Will
helmshafen, Kiel, Dantzic, Sundevitt and
Alsen, other maritime stations protected
by forts are about to be created. Those
at Herup. Haaf will, when completed,
render the position impregnable These
works will comprise three star-shaped
forts with double tiers of guns, and five
coast batteries commanding the passages
of the Little Belt. All these will be iron
faced and armed with the heaviest, ord
nance, and will not only command the
straits, but also the canal of Alsensund
with the port, and maintain communica-
ton with the military depot of Sender
berg on the same island of Alsen. The
fears Of France have been considerably
aroused, as Prussia, which is already
firmly established in the formidable po-
sition of Duppel, will, when these works
are completed, have the command Of the
North Sea, the Baltic and the straits.
Neither has Prussia neglected to obtain
footing in the Indian seas. The nego-
tiations with the Rajah of Johore, in the
peninsula of Malacca, have resulted
in the purchase of the island Of Kalamne
for the North German confederation. A
permanent naval station is to be estab-
lished there. Until the opening of the
Suez canal there had been only one
Prussian corvette in the waters of India
and China, but at the present there are
two, the Hertha and the Medusa, and
the next year third will be sent An
arsenal and storehouse will be erected
in the course of the next two years at
Kalamne.
Prussia steam feetis being increased
as rapidly as human efforts will admit
of. The latest additions to the ironclads
are the King William, Of 1898 tons, and
the Renown, Of 1900 tons. The former,
which is considered the most formidable
vessel afloat, was built in England for
the Sultan Of Turkey, but as he could
not pay, it was snapped up by the Prus-
slams. The armament consists of twenty
three guns Of the heaviest caliber known,
manufactured Of the famous Krupp steel,
at the works in Westphalia. The steam
power is ll50 horse, the crew 600 men.
The Renown is less heavily srmored, and
has only 1900 horse power, with an srma-
ment Of four ll-inch guns, six 96-pound-
ers. twelve 72-pounders, and twelve "a
Founders on the upper deck. The crew
amounts TO 1000 men, exclusive of Off
GERS. The vessel was built in kiel. On
the stocks at the navy yard in Wilhelm
shafen, is the heavy iron-clad frigate, the
Grosser Kurfurst, and the Frederick the
Great. of the same class, is building at
Kiel. The Hansa, another iron
clad, is nearly completed at Dant-
zic, where the steam frigate
has been commenced. and the
steam sloops Albatross and Nautilus
and in commission are four
more heavy iron-clads-the Friedrich
Carl. now in London, Of l6 guns, and
4, 900 tons; the Crown Prince, Of the same
force; the Arminius, Of four heavy guns
and 1000 tons. and the Prince Adelbert,
Of three guns, with a tonnage Of 200.
OF frigates there are the Elizabeth, 2s
guns and 1000 tons; the HerthA, same
force, now in China; the Vineta, same
force; the Arizona, now in New York
harbor, IS guns and l,7ls tons; the ka-