The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-04

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tho same subsidy comprised ten armored
frisntes Of the nrst class, ten turreted mon
tors, and q certain number of torpedo
boats for coast protection, besides fourteen
sloOps-of-war TO serve as cruisers In foreign
waters. Even before the funds were voted,
some of these vessels had been ordered
and launched In England, and the oharao-
ter of their armament will indicate the
general efficiency of the new feet Thus
the K1nig wilhelm, Of 1000 tons, Is verb
table floating fortress, carrying twenty
three pieces which launch balls Of three
hundred pounds weight. The Kron Prinz
and Friedrich Karl, of $500 and 1900 tons
respectively, are equipped with rifled can
non Of Prussan make, whose projeotlles
weigh two hundred pounds. These so
called frigates are little inferior TO the
strongest iron ships-of-the-line in the Brit
ish navy. and I'm like manner the armored
corvettes or sloops-of-war might ftly be
compared with English frigates.
Three years ago. when the national re-
sources had been augmente by the French
Indemnity. the German navy received fur
Their expansion. At the suggestion of Bis
hARcK, the Reichstag voted to increase the
number OF first-class plated ships from ten
to fourteen, that Of torpedo boats from six
to twenty eight, and that Of sloops-of-war
from fourteen to twenty. An additional
grant of twenty-six millions of dollars
was accorded for the purpose. and 1t is to
be noted that these sums are exclusive OF
the annual naval budget, amounting to
two and half millions and applied to the
maintenance OF ninety vessels of low grade,
mounting some fifteen hundred guns. Ao-
cording to the plans submitted by the
Chancellor, and now actively carried for
ward, the whole feet above outlined
should be ready for service before the year
1882
With unstinted outlay the creation Of a
navy may be only the question of few
years, but the organization Of a competent
naval service Is a slow and arduous under
taking. To man the ships completed OF
now building will require twelve thousand
seamen. But the coast population Of Ger
many Is said TO furnish no more than for
ty-five thousand sailors, most of whom are
employed on merchant vessels. Recruit
ment therefore, on n large scale would be
impracticable. and the Chancellor has re-
sorted TO q scheme OF marine consumption
not unlike that practised In France Every
seafaring man and every fisherman. from
the day he reaches his twentieth year, is
drafted on board Government ship.
After completing three consecutive years
of service. he IL transferred to the reserve
where for four years longer he Is subject
to establishment whenever the State may
claim his aid. Finally, from his twenty
seventh year he forms part Of the Seetrehr,
which, In the system OF maritime defence,
corresponds with the Landtcehr Of the
army.
Notwithstanding the obstacles which the
enforcement OF these novel regulations
has encountered, and we may cite special
ly vast amount Of desertion, there Is lit
tie doubt that this plan of organization
will assure, at no distant day, an adequate
number Of skilled seamen. Non-oommis-
| stoned officers, moreover, are tempted to
continue In active service by the offer Of
large pay. by honorary distinctions of
divers sorts, and by the prospect of ulti-
mately gaining lucrative civil posts which
are enumerated in decree. The quota Of
commissioned officers has been fixed at
seven hundred, with a reserve of half that
number. At the outset these were re-
| cruited partly from foreigners and
| partly from the mercantile marine, but
| a naval school at Kiel was early founded,
| and only graduates at present receive
| ommissions In the line. The candidate
for admission to this academy must pre-
sent certificate of general culture equiv
n. 90 ~ ~ ho halo ~
] arts, and undergo q searching examination
| In the exact sciences. The course OF sub
| sequent study Is exhaustive, is supple
msnted with two or three years Of active
service and includes two additional exam
nations before the aspirant reaches the
grade Of sub-lieutenant. Wem may add that
| the navy 10 held in high esteem by the no.
| bility. and that II has become the fashion
| for young men OF good family to distin-
| guish themselves at these examinations.
II Is curious that the naval profession
should be invested with so much prestige
in Prussia, denuded, as it is, OF those tradi-
tons and associations which recommend
1t to other countries. To find O trace
| Of German ascendaucy at sea we must
I 60 back to the Hanse towns Of the
fourteenth century. Accordingly, Ger.
man newspapers and public speak
ers are now fond of recalling the time
when a few members Of the HanseatiC
League overmatched the Kingdom Of Den
mark and Norway-no doubt a formidable
antagonist at that epoch-captured Co
penhagen, and dictated peace. More
| dangerous rivals, however, await the i'm
proyised squadrons Of Prince BISMARCK
and 1t remains TO be seen how well the
German sailor can cope with the trained
seamen OF Russia or OF France.
The Grain Movement.