The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-22
SPAIN IS 4 NAIL POWER.
whnt She Could Add TO the Coalition OF
France md Russia.


France md nus-ia.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 2l.-Thc intimntions of
some OF tho Paris papers that there will soon
be another Drcibund In Europe formed by the
entrance OF Spain into the alliance of France
and Russia. are not easy to credit. Compared
with the responsibilities and risks Of such an
association Spain has little or nothing to gain
from II. The Pyrenecs fix her boundaries with
France: and while her chief outlook for terri
torial annexation through services to her sug
gested allies might be in the annexation OF
Morocco. to which England would have de-
cidcd objection. yet. on the other hand. should
her venture be disastrous she might lose tho
Philippines or the Carolncs.
But while 1t hardly seoms probable that
Spain would venture into tho European strug-
gle for supremacy without greater reason than
she has at present. the discussion of the sub.
jcct has turned attention tn her military and
naval strength. As to the former. IL ia an olc-
ment Of minor consequence. consisting. in
time of peace. Of a forco on the peninsula Of
100000 men, which might be raised to perhaps
half a million in time OF war. The colonial
force. including that Of Cuba. Porto Rico and
tho Philippines is rather more than 10000
in time Of peace but with the native militia
could bS increased to many times that number.
1t IL SPANS navy. however. that would form
her chief contribution Of importance to an alli-
ancc: and little examination will show how
great has been her recent growth of power on
tho 500. few years ago she turned her at
tcntion to fast commerce dcstroycrs and tor
rcdo craft. Within year II royal decree has
sanctioned the plan Of Minister Bcrangcr for
rcconstrncting tho navy. The high standard
required is evident from the fact that MI crus-
ers hereafter constructed must have at least
twenty knots spced. The hrst-class cruisers
must. besides rapid flre guns and torpedo hes.
carry at least two 11-inch Hontora hrccch-
leaders. protected by nrmor. and must have
celluloss coiferdams at the water line. With q
have et ne. It fnn TWENTY knS they are
The spanish f"ct has been nor" orya n into
thrse divisions. the first at CadiS. tho second
at nn, ti"rrnl; and the third at CartaTena., Now
ipianta Maria Theresa, tho vi isc ra,s' tho
the and 9snsssa de
are each Of 1000 tons. 1900 h"rs. power ' or
t npWardi and with s6eed Of from eighteen to
thick, The batteries Include two i5-ton Hon.
toria breech-l?adcrs, ton 51,-inch guns sixteen
redoes The rst a hran gum hnd eight fSF
The Emperadors Carlos v ls to have dis
s.ui;srs Safs aaS BsnhS Sfse shs s viii ff hnyo
turrptS
about ten inches thick. twenty four rnpid-ilre
guns and six torpedo tubes. Her engines. Of
30 tn,ooO horse power. are expected to gy. nine;
mics t9usht t" thae two fa Of shs % hH
latter s unis q. e .n tnGraa Sy
the tn firm Of Mnrguia at Cadz. but viii only
:, The bsttleship Peiayo. U!U2 tons, is ono Of
the , best known spanish aEmorclais She was
" t ssn hevssj ct sSa aaIe
rets on the Canst system; tw" iI ri' guns sr
bow gun. twelve 4.-inch, making ak on each
81 sitde =; on Canet mountngs; large number
seven torpedo tubes. She has a speed Of Il
xn knots, Under Under, natural drauGht alone. with III
The ' armgrela "Hs 3ittora. of 1850 TONS II
tons. IS guns. and Knots. are to have ", . such
az viii her sperd and betssr
fit them for service. The Zarasoza is Of 1920
t9 Rd 10 ss sns,n nnd skn"ts ,os.,
and 2S7 knots anS t the Aionse S sInf'
70 knots. The Reina Rcgcntc was in her day
t %" fastest war cruiser In the world. Built on
T%sestiys acsk in:hes '1iSE s and az sa nj
smaller guns besides live torpedo tub Tubes "t SIX
yss 81 bs equally dyde sstwGsn tic
ario. Nueva Espana. Ripido. Galca and Veloz
Thcs" are o; about 57l tons displacement
ana 2.Uo hors" power. giving IL knots speed.
Besides two bow torpedo tubes they carry two
A. H"ntorias and five rapid-nrc guns. A
noticcat IT, torpedo vessel Of the Sharrshooter
type. building at Caliz. on n disbursement Of
!41 tons. IA to have 1900 horse power and 20
knots speed. with st"nming radius Of 1000
miles Mt 10 knots Among the gunboats are
tire" noticeable vessels Of ! 900 tons. the Isla
de Cuba. Isla de Luzon. and Marques de la
Ensnnada. These have II or Ii knots speed
The Rcina Cristna. Reina Mercedes and Al
lhonso MI. OF 5000 tons and 17's knots. with
~ guns. Gre turned into transports.
1t would he easy to ndd the names Of about
the Vencdito. lllon, Colon. Don Juan de
Austria; lnfanta Isabel. and Isabel II. Of 1870
tons and l4knots. But these and Ut theirs are not
rreckoned ms part Of the re"rgnnzed war
fleet. Mention must be made" however, OF
SPANS fine noti!ta Of torpedo boats and tor
rcdo cruisers. OF these Ell Dostrurtnr Of 45S
tons and % = knots has long been famous and
the kayo and AriCtn are also renowned among
TORPEDO" hnats. the former having made n
speed OF 24% in long run past the Moro and
to sea. Snnins experiments with tho sub
marine boat Pcral are also well known.
Tho enterprise with which Spain hns thus
been building up hor navy. during tho last four
years would certainly mako her possible con-
trihution to European alliance valuable in
her vessels as well as their steel plates in hor
,Omnips - '~-