Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-03-25

tered upon policy of reorganization
and reconstruction. So far as the
outside world can learn the organiza-
ton is excellent To improve the
quality of the fleet four first class and
nine third class ironclads, eight large
protected cruisers and various smaller
craft were projected. OF the first
| class armorclads three-the Kurfnrst,
friedrich Wilhelm, the Branden-
burg and the Wissenberg have been
launched.
The rise of the Spanish navy has
been, like that of Italy and Of the
| United States, from comparative moth
ingness- AS with us, it began with the
production of fast unarmored cruisers.
The first appreciation Of the inadeqnacy
of such vessels TO give any real naval
strength was seen in the construction
of the armored battle-ship Pelayo.
of about 10, 600 tons. While the Pelayo
was still under way definite ship
building policy seems to have been de-
cided upon. Six fast armored cruisers
of 1000 tons each were laid down OF
these three have been launched and
two Of them are nearing completion.
Two larger armored cruisers of 9.2s5
tons were decided upon about a year
later, aud one at least has been laid
down.
The Intanta Ma. ia Teresa, of the six
7,oOO-ton armored cruisers building for
the Spanish government, is now prac-
ticaliy complete. This vessel is of
1000 tons displacement, $4,000 horse
power and 20 knots speed The belt
armor. which is narrow, is - inches
thick amidships The barbette armor
over the large guns is 1917 inches
thick The battery consists of two1I-
inch. ten 5. 5-inch, one &c inch, eight
6-pounder rapid fire and ten machine
guns Two armored cruisers of larger
size (9.2S5 tons) viii be of similar type.
Greece has Just received into her
navy the three armorclads OF the
Psara type OF ASS tons each. No
| new construction is under way, and
doubtless the ambitious little kingdom
! considers her present force ample to
take such part as may fall to her share
in administering the coup de grace to
Turkey when, in the fullness of time,
the auspicious moment arrives.
Among the lesser European naval
powers Austria is barely holding her
own. The recently finished Rudolf
and Stefanie are the latest additions
to her armored feet. and no Others
are now building. Some attention IS
being paid to the unarmored classes.
three large cruisers being under con-
sideration.
Turkey has practically dropped out
fitting some Of her old broadside ships
being a last expiring effor.
The navy of the United States has.
outside of Europe, norivaL Including
vessels built, building and projected
which are likewise included in the
estimates of other navies-we are un-
doubtedly sixth, occupying a place be-
tween Germany and Spain, but nearer
the former than the latter.
OF the other American powers, Bra
I'll, Argentina and Chilli alone possess
navies Brazil has recently added a
large unarmored cruiser to her fleet,
and is about to add another. She has
also sustained serious loss in the
wreck of the Solimoes, which took
place a few months ago. This vessel,
one of two sister ships possessed by
Brazil, was of about the same size and
resembled in many respects the Man
tonomoh of our own navy.
Argentina has also had similar ex-
perience, though less serious, the loss
being that of a small torpedo cruiser
only. The recent addition to her feet
consists of two small but well armed
and efficient armored coast defenders
of about . 800 tons
Within the year Chilli has lost the
Blanco Encalada (armorclad, of $500
tons) and is about to receive into SER
vice the Captain Prat, which is prae-
tically ready for delivery by her build
ers. In each of the countries the
political and financial situations are
such as torender further augmentation
of their naval forces improbable at
present.
1t is interesting to note that orr
nearest neighbor on the south, Mexico.
has thoughts of creating navy. She
has caused to be built abroad a I, 200
ton cruiser for use as a training ship,
and expects to establish naval school
with staff of instructors undera Post
Captain in the British navy. The out
come of these first efforts will be
watched with much interest.