The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-03
The NaxaI Power of Rnssia.

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was powerfully fortified by the appearance
OF an English squadron in the Archipelago,
and by the conviction, general throughout
Europe, that the joint maritime forces OF
the imperial States would still be over
matched by the British fleet. Neverthe-
lees Russia is now stronger ON the ocean
than ever before.
In the space of fifteen years the Russian
navy has been resurrected from state Of
utter humiliation. When, i'm 1854, the
fleets OF the Car took refuge in Cronstadt
and Sebastopol, their sole resource was
suicide, aud the only patriotic service in
their power was to sink thor vessels at the
entrance of those harbors But the tram
mels Of that treaty OF Paris, which huinil-
lated Russia by prescribing the neutrality
of the Black sea, were flung off I'm 1871,
and steps were forthwith taken TO restore
and nggrandize the naval arsenal Of Moo
laref. This city of sixty thousand souls,
placed ut the junction OF the Ingul and
the Bug and protected by an intricate sys-
tenn of forthcations, contains well or
gained naval school and n navy yard,
which, in the day OF sailing ships. was ac-
counted n model. IL is now radically
transformed and adapted TO tho construc-
ton Of iron frigntes; but the impotence
of the Government could not wait for the
completion OF the works, and armored ves-
sells OF peculiar circular model, named
popofkd, from Admiral PoPoF. the in
ventor, were hurried forward in pro-
visional yards. Here and at Kcrtoh, on
the Sea of Azof, are concentrated the mar
80 L., 81,
The veritable arsenals of the Car. how
ever, are not placed on the Black sea, but
on the Neva, and in the neighborhood OF
st. Petersburg. Behind the impreguable
defences OF Cronstadt lie the vast naval
establishments OF Russia, together with
several private yards. founded by English
capital ana directed by English engineers.
From the latter have issued plated ships of
the largest size and most effective type.
Russia, moreover, manufactures her own
cannon. The metal employed lie thought
to be of n superior quality, and the steel in
particular, fabricated in the Government
foundries at Perm and Obouchof. IL ac-
counted by experts more dense and durable
than any other. The various national dock
yards around the capital city require the
private shipyards are on II scale hardly less
stupendous, one of them employing $500
workmen.
The vast sea coast OF the Russian empire.
and the squndrons aud cruisers maintain
ed i'll foreign waters. naturally exact for
defence and armament an imposing force
of sailors. Thus, even in time OF peace. we
mud the quota Of enlisted men, including
non-commissioned officers stated at twen-
ty-fvc thousand, besides half as many
more absent on temporary leave and en-
ployed on merchant vessels, or In the ports
and the civil administration. As these,
moreover are not drawn, like the naval
recruits of France and Prussia. from spc-
cial categories OF the maritime popula-
ton, but from the general body of CON
scripts, In case OF war their number might
be indefinitely augmented. On the other
hand, although accomplished seananship
is now less essential than formerly, a GER
tain amount OF expertness is still necessary.
The inexperience, therefore, OF men de-
rived in large measure from inland
provinces might prove a decisive cause OF
inferiorty but for the extended term of
service, which lasts fifteen years, ten or
twelve of these being spent in active en-
ployment and the remainder in the reserve
Al NicolaYef and Cronstadt, for instance,
schools have been founded where the
prospective sailor is taught 10 read and
write and to shoot the rifle, receiving, in
addition some elementary instruction in
mathematics, the management OF artil-
lery, and nautical tactics.
For commissioned officers the Institute
OF Naval Cadets has been established at
st. Petersburg, aud hero are gathered
from two 10 three hundred pupils re-
cruited from the ranks of the nobility.
Instead, however of exacting, like the
Prussian Academy ut Kiel, IA the pre-
requisite OF admission degree of culture
represented by diploma of Bachelor Of
Arts, the Russian institution accepts the
most documentary acquisitions, and the
subsequent course OF study pursued under
its auspices Is neither comprehensive nor
severe. In the navy proper, and exclusive
of all ancilary corps, the list OF officers
exceeds eighteen hundred. Against this
set the Prussian marine, which includes
but three hundred officers, and the colos-
sal British fleet, which has less than six
teen hundred, half OF whom are ON half
pay.
Up to 1862 the Russian navy was confined
TO wooden ships OF the old pattern, supple
mented by tlotillas OF gunboats for coast
defence. After Our civil war. armored and
turreted vessels OF the monitor type we're
speedily built, and three of them figured
in the evoutons of the Baltic squadron,
witnessed by Admiral FARRAGur, in 1867.
At present the iron fleet of Russia consists
of four floating batteries eleven turreted
monitors, and ten armored frigates of the
first class. Among these the Peter the
Great, of ten Thousand tons, IL one of
the most powerful and invulnerable in
existence, the plates of her cuiTass being
fourteen inches thick, and reaching some
Ave feet below the water line. We should
add that important additions arc con-
tlnually making 10 the feet, and II
appears that within ten years fifty mil
lions OF dollars have been expended
for this purpose. 1t IL calculated that
in 1883. the epoch when the German feet
projected by BISMARCK is expected TO