The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-25

Already be the outline of many cast
Ing their shadows before them the political and
commercial ned In Europe One almost the
territory Of Turkey distributed among the Powers that
are watching with hand on sword the last moments OF
The "Sck Man" England, holding Egypt as a "guar-
intee" until some great shall give her the chance
TO own the Nile Valley beyond dispute; Russia
stretching westward and gazing with longing eye
over the mountains and plains of Palestine and
down the Euphraes Valley. waiting for the great
war to give tho wished for opportunity Of COM
Austria, with her southern frontier the Balkans
which will separate her from Greece; Germany in
possession OF the German provinces OF the present
Ausro Hungarian Empire; France possibly In posses
sion Of Alsace ana Lorraine again; Spain owning
Morocco: Tunis absorbed In French Agiers; Holland
and Belgium united under one government or annexed
TO Germany anu France respectively Italy owning the
Tyro and Constantnoplo, the seal OF small neutral
State controlling the Bosphorus and the Dardanellss
While all these things are being effected America
must keep pace with European progress She will
continue from arst 10 last tho commercial rival
o, all Europe. She must DO aoe 10 sustain this
rivalry in trade and to protect the trade
powerful navy-a force that Will patrol and
police The seas, aiording protection TO her flag
IL floats. She must nave such fleet will
open Canal to her commerce and protect II
encctualy la the Indian Ocean tho Gulf OF
sweep from the seas hundred Alabamas that may be
sent out against her merchant ships and TO punish
the nation sends such piratical craft from It's
ports Happily the time is past whom her strength
needs TO be employed IN the suppression Of domestic
Disturbances The people 81 this country are now
thoroughly united again under one constitution and
flag IL from foreign enemies that danger TO
American interests VIII come. aud the might OF
40 900 OF people must b" directed 10 securing Tor
country the right Of navigating every and OF
trading with every port in the world
EUROPEAN sAvEs
coming
change IN relations IS shown by the efforts
by all tho Powers to insure scLprotc,ton Tho
formidable array OF iron. cads which 90 form the
united pavcs Of Europe has special interest icr
the United States for IL the force with which
Europe may some day assert her determination TO
crush Americas trade. As before stated, tho American
people have nothing TO lear from Europe's military
strength " combined against this country. Neither
need they dread the descent OF armsdas these
coasts but il is at the nles OF commerce. that tho
OF tho British Islands and Franco ard tho Baltic
against American trade An An.iospansh or
y combination OF the fleets OF several ma
lions may guard the Cape OF Good Hope
anu tho Horn against American commerce.. These
may iar-lelched IDEAS but no one will deny that
they suggest possibilities against which PROVISION IN
some degree should be made. TO measure, then, the
present relative strength 0t the European naves II
necessary lay before the reader IN abulaied form
number character OF the effective war ships OF
each nation and BY comparing these with those OF tho
United States Navy, such as II Is just now fair esii-
be made oil the position OF thus country as
naval power. An article recently published In tho
HERALD gave tho relative naval strengths OF England,
Russia and Turkey, but in making general comIa ri
son it will be necessary repeat these statements
with the addition Of facts bearing the condi-
ton Of the several ships.
THE BRITISH NAVY.
The real lighting force OF tho British Navy consists
OF iron clad ships, other class OF vessels being
adapted meet Tho exiscnccS OF modern naval war
fare. This the opinion entertained by tho highest
authorities and whether II Is correct 10 Is
which present governs the organization OF the
British Navy. Assuming TO be based tho dest
principles OF modern naval construction II IS only
necessary state that the following lists OF iron clad
ships arranged according to class, furnish accurate
presentation OF tho elective naval power Of Great
Britain.
CLASSIFICATION THE BRITISH PLKEr
OF reference is here made 10 the effective
feet composed OF ir0nclads and arlnored vessels OF
the first named class OF ships there lncoib battle
ships, turrct SHIPS compromise ships, 1oating bat
tcries and rams
The hne-oi battle iron. cldds srmorcd ships are
formed squadrons for the general control OF the
seas and intended light naval battles Tho
tnrret ships intended coast uelence and for tho
attack OF the strongly fortified ports Of enemy.
The COMPROMISE ships chiefly intended for convoy
service but In all other respects for almost
any service The floating batteries TO be employed
for the attack and defence OF rivers harbos and other
waters OF limited area ana the rams are designed, as
their name implies, Tor tho destruction OF the enemys
Sims by direct collision the 'Duttrg'' plan of at
tack adopted BY the Merrmac az Hampton Roads, and
BY the Austrian Admiral lcgctho1 at tho baltic OF
LISA where no vanquished the Italian fleet.
ENGLISH IKON-CLAD LINE-OP-BATTLE SHIPS