New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-15
TIE GERMAN NAVY.
IT'S GROWTH AND PRESENT CONDITION.

TALK WITH COMMANDER MENSING, OF THE GERMAN
NAVY-niGH APPRECIATION OF TIE SKILL. OF
AMERICAN NAVAL OFFICERS.
European nations do not ridicule the idea of the
United states becoming naval power. Though
the vessels of the American navy few in number
and mostly of obsoletc pattern, the world knows
that this country has an unusually fine set of
officers of untou1ted efficiency and bravery. Any
nation can build ships, but good officers are not
easy to make
These were the words of Command Mensing, nj
officer of the German navy, i'll conversation with n
TRIBUNE reporter recently. The Commander has
been sent to tins country by his Government for
the purpose of studying the recent inventions in
naval warfare introduced here. When asked fer
some facts III regard To the German navy, Comman-
der Mcnsing spoke rs follows:
when / entered the Imperial navy in 1860, it
consisted of one steam corvette one sailing
vctte, two sailing frigates and few smaller yes
sells. Soon after Prus,I;s took upon herself the task
of protecting the commerce of Germany, though
the other German States did not contribute toward
the maintenance OF her navy. Even at that time.
| aftcrward heard Count Moltkc say, Prussia
had taken upon herself 10 be the sword and shield
of Germany Prussia, having available place for
port bought from the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg
n strip of land on the North Sea- and began the
construction of Wilhemshalen. This naval station
is an immense artificial basin in which fleets can
ride ut anchor. 1t is connected with the sea by Il
canal one mile long. Here are shpyards and docks,
constructed on large scale and of the most APP
proved pattern. The basin was eXcavated ut Il
large expenditure of money aud Labor and il
opened IN louo In tho war with Denmark IN 1864
most of the Prussian ports were bloc lladed by the
Danish neet and strong popular feeling arose III
favor OF II larger navy The Government dad all III
lis power to buld one but had very little m0uey at
It's disposal for the purpose. The peel PIE presented
to the Government !. vessel of the Monitor pattern
the Arninius and the Government purchased Il
steam ram, the Prince Adalbert Three other large
ships We're afterward huIt, the konlg Wilhelm:
Prinz Friedrich Carl. and X onprinz. The results OF
the Danish war gave MS the harbor OF kiel, one of
the best III tie world. II has deep water for five
and one half miles, there is no tide. and the harbor
Is open nearly all the year round.
Iii 1866 came the German Confederation, and
with 1t the means To build II navy AS soon as the
docks were so iar advanced as to enaHie inc Hoy,
lrgatcs were built. They of 400 tens bur-
den, and had engines Of ., 100 horse power lhey
carried two aOo-pomnd riiled hrupp guns III tneir
poop. AT the same time was begun the construction
Of several ron-piated Wooden ships which i. were
rihed guns. They were not ready when the war
with France broke ont, 50 that Germany had no
the Third Napoleon. The French navy kept up he
bloc kade of the Prussan ports until tue on
land rendered IL useless, with great spirit and SKILL
on the most dangerous coast Ill the world, ana
through season Of storm and tempest such as that
French indemnity portion of it was at ::oncc APP
piled TO the construction OF more vessels. lhen
were built the Kaiser and Deutchiand TWO hrst,
class iron frgates of 1900 tons displacement and
having engines of 5000 horse power. They mount
eight guns port, one at the bow, y 4OO-pounder,
and one 2OO-pounder In the stern. There were also
constructed iour iron ships with eighteen inches of
nrnlor, 5000 tons displacement, engines of $500
horse power, all heavily armed. and eight smaller
iron vessels carving I,o00-pound guns nt the bow
and having tonnage of 7S0 tons and engines of
700 horse power. These were all aTInOred with
eight inches of ron
thus the German navy consists at present of
twelve first class iron frigatcs, the small monitor
Arninius, eight iron gunboats fifteen cruisers ten
of iron and five of wood seven soops OF war; thrce
composite ships iron and wood, besides several
yachts, fifteen smaller gunboats three tenders, eight
torpedo boats two transports and several SHIPS
used in training boys and midshipnen. These,
with the exception of few undergoing repairs are
always kept ready for sea. We are now building
four sloops of war and three gnnboats. The entire
navy is armed with riled guns of heavy calibre:
When the ships now building are finished we snail
nave as large navy rs Is consideres necessary
for Germany under present circumstances. The
German navy tE perfectly organized and thoroughly