New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-09
RUSSIA'S NAVAL PROGRESS.
EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS FOR HER NEAI
WAR WITH ENGLAND.
IRON Az OCCASIONAL oorkrsioNDLNi OF 'hh l"'p' ~"
st. Petersburg, February II


st. Petersburg February II
"Uolvs Russia. as tie Muscovite and Sav
natriots are wont to call their country seems just
now TO be preparing for some imminent o"'0i'~N
of war Tie Cossack cavalry oil the ho"o""' '"O
Terek etc, have been ordered to add one OF inOic
hotnias or squadrons 10 each oil 'hen ic7i"o"''
troops are moving along tie Lessaraoi"h iIon'ci
line and unusual military ACTIVITY IS Ns'oe III
Russian Poland Without stopping to discuss '"c
diplomatic aspect OF the SITUATION, IL IL sd'c "
assert that in case of a Russian war Win Inc
Triple Alliance England is sdie to take manu-
therein siding of course with the A4ilah'e' nus
sia is perectly well aware OF tins pioDaoil'S' an"
nlaces but little reliance in the assertion made by
Bismarck in 1878 at tie Ecrhn Conference 10 'nc
cnect that whales never attack quadrupcds.
Tie Russian bear has done lis best toward pre-
parpg for an eventual struggle with tie EnshSh
whale; and he seems TO have pretty well SUI
ceeded as may be seen by rapid glance al 'Ae
nroc,ess made during the last ten years, IN 'le
Rnssian Navy This has been effected wltAou'
hardening the ordinary Navy budget with any
extra charge The Black Sea fleet, winch was
con,noscd in 1873 of Two insignificant Iohci""s
DESIGNED by Admiral Popon, and of few woo"eh
vessels and torpedo boats, now comprises 'o"
hinge ironclads a number OF large ana small cIuis-
ers with and without torpedo gear, ana u'ui't
Jude of little torpedo boats Ike 'nose WIN"
created such havoc among the lurhish Hon''"''
in the Danube during the last war Tue ''o'''"',
fleet. destined to manoeuvre along the Oole"n an"
Chinese coast, is new creation, as wen "s "'''
The main harbor Of Vladivostock. war steamer
The Check Tepe has just been added 10 t"e '"s-
man feet Light drausht steamers nave o'e"
built for navigating the shallow waters VI '"'
Azof and Aral seas Even the White sea anu ''c
Arctic shores OF Russian possessions nave "o' "'''
neglected For they are to De lIo'ec'eu ~ "
strong naval squadron, the vessels vi WHY" van
a.roaf,er find a refuge, coalins and victuallIns
harbor at the docks of the new aTsehal ouii' o"
Fishcrmen's Island. where frostS are rare ana the
wafer is sufficiently deep during the greater part
If the year 10 allow for the dIaught OF even Tue
largest men-Oi-war.
II will he noticed that with regard to naval
,rocress Pnssia lahols under special dihicuiti's
The nrineipal OF these is that size has 10 proVl"e
sneciol harbols and arsenas toT each o her meets.
which cannot act In unison separated as they arc
NV intervening foreign territories. Oh locked up al
;ntcrnal seas like the Aral ) luddron III a'ui-
zion TO this there are the delays and expenditure
dine 10 the obstacles to direct communication WIN
lie various ports She has surmOuh'cd 'hcsc uii-
doulties and spcndidly equipped oolh Aei nee's
and her ports in tie Black sea- the racine ocean,
the White sea, the seas OF Azol ana Ar@i' anu ''o
Caspian. But her greatest ehoIt MS oeeh 'on-
centrated in the Baltic. where she mas sui'eh ~
make two steps forward whenever Germany haue
ore. with the object of securing tie exclusive
possessiou OF that Mediterranean OF NoI'he1H
EuiOpc. - i; ,Lo
Russia has maintained her supremacy IN the
l}altlc since 1890 when Admiral hrusc delea'eI
1ne Swedish fleet The centennial anniversary u
this glorious event Will be ceieDIa'cu Oh n". :"
nc\f in every part of Holy Russia, put eS-
pecally in her seaports and on board OF the NUS
covitc ships. Great preparations are a.ie"GqS =,
i'm made TO give great cci@l 10 lne lcslI'dA, ~
The close of the last century the RUSSIAN Navy
was 50 inferior in regard 10 men ana hSn'ihS ul1
1crial that it was doubted IL 1t wou!u Vv
10 hold It's own against tie Swedes the tIauItloidl
lords of the Baltic and the p0ssessOfs OF inc D"cnS
eff Finland 1t was in May, l.9O, that the
Swedish fleet OF twenty nine vessels comhanueu
hy the Duke of Sundermanland, was ordereu ny
King Gustayc III TO make descent upon Gu.
Young capital of Russia. st. Petersburg was pun
poorly fortified al that time. ana us appiodclcs
tx the NcVa were defended only by the seventeen
vessels which Admiral kruse had succeeded III
gathering together for the purpose A san@uluaiiS
battle was fought oil the ked Hlll, "hcic tno
rival fleets met II lasted for two days, durih5
which time the ST. Petersburg inhabitants cIowueu
anXiously along The quays listening 10 ,ng io"a
of tle cannon which seemed every now ana thch
~ draw nearer to the city. At length. however
Notwithstanding the infcriOrliy OF the forces al
lis command Admiral hru,e compeIlea 1ne s oWeu
ish fleet to beat retreat ana 10 TAKE icirEv
under the guns OF NIhOrg, where IL WAS piooNau'"
by the MEscoVll"s. ,., 49,, ,
The patriotism and the valor which thcn pre-
vailed among the Russian sailors and the Nns>ian
nrople exist to this day This was demonstrated
~ lie lime of the Berlin Congress III 1878 IL
was generally believed at that period tat war
would hc declared against Eneland ana as
Russia did not possess an efficient navy. her naNai
men advised tle building Of iicc' OF cruisers "i
the Alabama type for the purpose OF proving upon
British merchantmen. while carefully aVolhih4
+hc English mcn-Ol-war. - great was lhc pop
Mar enthusiasm aroused 10y the scheme tha1 IN
few DAYS n biz fund had been raised by v"lnnt1ry
Subscriptions for the construction OF these MUS
covitc Alabamas which were DESIGNATED DN
immortal decree rs the Patriotic Fleet"
II was during those DAYS OF intense excitement.
when war seemed the VERGE OF breaking on,
once more thar q Russian captain OF small
patriotic" vacht-cruiser made memorable
answer worthy Of Kruse the saviour Of ~ Peter
burg He was. anchored on san StefanO, ms
small vessel surrounded by huge monsters OF nc
British feet When asked whether he would
ottempt any show Of resistance in case OF ne
expected declaration Of war. he rcnlled Il VIII
never hc made n prisoner " How can You
cscanc itp Do Won cVncct. single-handcd, 10 whip
t,o ,Yb7-e british feet ." Not ~ all. answered
Inc lint The military code avcs me- perfect
rioht 10 blow M my vessel" Since that time
1lc naval STRENGTH Of Russia has immensely I'M
nrove1 especially in her arscnals on the l'altc;
where irorclads Of thc highest class are launched