The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-12
THE EUROPEAN NAIVE S.

A British Admiralty return has recently
been presented which gives the naval
strength of the various European countries
in commission. reserve and building for
the present year. As might be expected.
England leads individually, but a coalition
between any two of the other naval
powers, If France were included, would
practically take the mastery from Eng
land on account of the vastly greater pro-
portion of commerce afi0at she has to de-
fend, as we'll as numerous colonies dotted
all over the earth.
England has total of 325 vessels, eX-
Guiding toEpedo-boats. There are actually
In commission 161, inclusive of "a battle
ships. 60 cruisers. 3 cOast-defeuse vessels
and "a other ships. The reserve consists
OF 10 battleShipS, IA coast defense, 46
cruisers and "a other ships; while there
are building or completing 9 battleships,
10 cruisers and % other vessels. The col
onies also have 20 war vessels in their own
hands.
France comes next to England, with a
total of 221. In commission she has 10
battleships, coast-defense vessels. %
cruisers and 80 other ships, excluding tor
pCdO-DOdbS. no ISS6iN6 CUuSiSbS VI ~
vessels, and there are battleships build
ing, 10 cruisers and other ships. Ger
many has a total of Sc vessels. In COM
mission she has II battleships, IA cruisers
and 10 other ships; in reserve. 81 vessels,
and II building. Russia has 100 warships.
which, however, are mostly small, and
Italy has So. France and Russia together
have 341 vessels; France and Germany to-
gether "a most improbable fraternizatiOn),
307; and France and Italy 3l4. If France,
Italy and Russia were to act together,
there would be fleet of 434 vessels. The
numerical superiority of Great Britain is.
however, far from being actual on account
Of her commerce and possessions. In war
time the colonies would be a source of
strength as far as coaling and retitting are
concerned, but other wise they would be a
cause of anxiety, and especially those
which are not. like Australia. self-goveTn-
ing and practically independent
The luxury of maintaining great navy
is naturally expensive, and England finds
that her superiority costs about as much
as the expenditures of France, Germany
and Russia combined. The total for Eng
land is 500, 404, $50; for France, 3.474, 800 ;
Germany. S23, 977, $50; Russia, So, 2OO, 694,
and Italy, S21,07S, $50. Germany, France.
Russia and Italy have in addition a
frightful army expenditure, and small as
England's insular army is it is very nearly
as costly as one on the Continent, where
every man of normal physique is required
10 serve at least from one to three years.
A glance at the foregoing statistics
shows that The era Of big battleships is by
~
assumption when the Victoria went down
within ten minutes after being prodded
with ram. Naval men still think these
monsters indispensable. and apparently
they deem it possible TO take better care
of them in times of peace. They are con-
sidered good at fighting if ineffective in
chasing or steaming away from a superior
force. Two battleShips are being laid
down in the English dockyards bigger
than any now afloat Their length is 800
feet. breadth IS feet, mean draught 81 g
feet, and displacement a. 800 tons. The
speed with natural draught is TO be 1615
knots, and perhaps a knot more may be
got out of them with maximum speed
They are to have large coal space and
50-tOE guns-an indication that the day of
very heavy ordnance for the navy has
passed. 1t is in fact questionable whether
a much smaller gun is not the right
weapon for the heaviest ships. Quick
firing and great range are preferable TO
mere weight. The 100 FOUNDER quick
firing gun, for instance, has from five to
seven shots in the air at the same time,
all bound for the same destination, before
the shell first discharged has struck. This
is truly marvellous development of