The morning call., 1893-04-25
THE NAVAL REVIEW.

Yesterday the represen tative squadr0ns
of the principal navies of the world assem-
bled for an international commemorative
put to sea from Hampton Roads for New
York, where will be witnessed one Of the
finest Speetacles in naval reviews this age
of ifonclads and steamship wonders is
capable of affording. Two or three squad
rOns belonging to different countries have
lIeque ntly been impressively seen together
under dress bunting, ana there have even
been larger mustsTs of vessels, but never
before have nearly all the navies OF the
earth participated in friendly demonstra-
ton for no other purpose than the peaceful
and joyous one OF showing good will 10 this
country and honOring the memory of tie
navigator who discovered the New World.
Not all countries have sent ships to this pa
rade. Belgium, Greece. Turkey and Swe-
den have not responded. probably because
their maritime castles are very incOn spicu-
Gus. Bat England, France. Germany
Italy, Russia, Spain. Portugal. Holland aud
Denmark have sent typical vessels,
and, while Mexico aud Peru are absent,
Chill and Argentine are represented. One
navy in Asia not to be deSplsed, that of
China, has held aluof. Perhaps the Chi
nese consider they have no concern with
dominion in the Atlantic, and the histori-
cal among their statesmen may contend
that long before Columbus reached the
West Indies Chinese and japanese iuuks
had crossed the Pacific. and thus Asia was
in the dark ages familiar with the western
seabOard of this continent. The Southern
Continent is for the first time in history a
sharer in the pride of naval power. Aus
tralia has sent vessel to the rendezvous
buitt and aoufrpad in tot II ie tttta ,,t
substantially an antipodean cruiser of no
mean strength. The United States has
fourteen vessels in line. 1t may possibly
have the Detroit as fifteenth. and it should
have had the New York but for delays in
the hands Of the builders. This is not an
overawing proportion. 1t is TO be said
however, that scarcely without exception
all our vessels are of an advanced modern
type of service ability, and compare advan-
tageously with the warships of other coun-
tries. Had the New York been ready, or
some other of the largest battle-ships pro-
tected with Harveyized steel. we should
have had stronger representatives than the
Blake is OF what fighting vessel should be.
The Blake is understood to be the most for
midable monster Of constructive skill in all
the joint feet. France is but poorly in ev.
dence with three ships, one of which is
only valuable for training seamen aud Civ
ing officers comfortable quarters, while
second is cruiser in no sense remarkable.
Italy has thought fit to respond creditably,
and Russia, though hampered By the ice
blockade in the Baltic, shows herself a
maritime power Of note.
No such muster would have been possible
in Europe for any purpose. National jeal-
ousies forbid The friendly consorting Of the
grim-visaged dogs of war. 1t is, in fact.
idle to pretend that these floating engines
of destruction serve their real design as
gondolas of pleasure. their guns toys to
show, their decks ballroom floors, their cab
ms banQGeting-h and their commanders
dreading the day when goo powder Will be
burned for hostile salutes and the hazard Of
glorious war viii have its train OF horrors
and devastation. The Christian nations of
the earth are muzzled, but prepared. Let
us be thankful that the war clouds, il they
do appear on the horizon, are dissiDated be-
fore they baeken the sky and rain down
their deadly bail