The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-02-11


outside world eau learn the organixs.
ton is excellent To improve til,
quality Of the fleet four first class and
nine third class ironclads, eight largs
protected cruisers and various smaller
craft were projected. OF the first
class armorclads three--the Kurfurst,
friedrich wilhelm, the Brandon
burg and the Wissen berg-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, 1t began with the
production Of fast unarmored cruisers.
The first depreciation OF the inadequacy
of such vessels to give any real naval
strength was seen in the construction
OF the armored battle-ship Pelayo.
of about 10, 900 tons. While the Pelayo
was still under way definite ship
building policy seems to have been de-
cided upon. Six fast armored CT users
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 9,235
tons were decided upon about year
later, and one at least has been laid
down.
The Intanta Ma. la Teresa, of the six
7,0O0-ton armored cruisers building for
the Spanish government, is now prac-
tically 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 tho large guns is 101 inches
thick. The battery consists of two H.
inch. ten 5. 5-inch, one SO. inch, eight
6-pounder rapid fire and ten machine
guns. Two armored cruisers of larger
size (0,335 tons) will be of similar type.
Greece has just received into her
navy the three armorclads of the
Psara type Of 1885 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 suspicious 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 fleet, 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
of the race, feeble attempt at re-
fitting some of her old broadside ships
being last expiring effort.
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 place be-
tween Germany and Spain, but nearer
the former than the latter.
or the other American powers, Bra
zil, Argentina and Chilli alone possess
navies. Brazil has recently added n
large unarmored cruiser to her feet,
and is about to add another. She has
also sustained serious loss in the
wreck of the Solimoes, which took
place 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 n similar ex-
perience, though less serious, the loss
being that of u small torpedo cruiser
only. The recent addition to her fleet
consists of two small but well armed
and efficient armored coast defenders
of about Q, 500 tons.
Within the year Chilli has lost the
Blanco Encalada (armorclad, of $500
tons) and Is about to receive into ser.
vice the Captain Pratt, which is prac-
tically ready for delivery by her build
ers. In each of the countries the
political and financial situations are
such as to render further augmentatio
of their naval forces improbable at
present.
1t is interesting to note that our
nearest neighbor on the south, Mexico,
has thoughts 81 creating navy. She
has caused to be built abroad 1900
ton cruiser for use rs training ship,
and expects TO esta blish naval school
with staff of instructors under Post
Captain in the British navy. The out
come of these first efforts will be
watched with much interest