The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-01-26

production OF fast unarmorGd crupTars
The first stappreciation Of the inadcquacy
of such vessels to give any reu unvnl
strength was seen in the construction
of the armored battle-ship Pe,ayo,
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 cruisers
of 1000 tons each were laid down. oi
these three have been launched and
two Of tbcm are nearing completion.
Two larger armored cruisers of 0,235
tons were decided upon about year
later, and one at least has been laid
down.
The Tntanta Maj Ia Teresa, Of the six
7,0OO-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 10 inches
thick amidships. The barbette armor
over the large guns is 1917 inches
thick. The battery consists of two IL
inch, ten 6. 5.5-inch, one 3.6-inch, eight
6-pounder rapid fire and ten machine
guns Two armored cruisers of larger
size (9,235 tons) will be of similar type.
Greece has just received into her
navy the three armorclads of the
Psara type Of 4,ss5 tons each. No
new construction is under way, and
doubtless the ambitious little kingdom
considers hcr present force ample to
take such pert 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 Stcfanic are the latest additions
TO her armored feet, and no other:
are now building. Some attention is
being paid to the unar'noroj classes
three large cruisers being under con-
sideration.
Turkey has practically dropped ou
of the race, a feeble attempt at re
fitting some of her old broadside ship:
being last expiring effort
The navy Of tho 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 si&th, occupying a place be-
tween Germany ana Spain, but nearer
the former than the latter,
OF the other American powers, Bra
I'll ..,I Tlsfi nlAnn pnegng,
nuvies Brazil mas recently added {
! large unarmoTcd cruiser TO her fleet
and is about to add another. She ha
. also sustained Il serious loss in tn
wreck of the Solimocs, which tool
! place a few months ago, This vessel
one of two sister ships possessed b.
| Brazil, was Of about the sane size anC
resemblcd in many respects the Miau
! tonomOh of our own navy.
Argentina has also had similar eX
! perience, though less serious, the los
being that of small torpedo cruise
only. The recent addition to her flee
consists Of two small but well armeC
and efficient armored coast defender
of about 2, 500 tons.
| WITHIN the year Chlh has lost Tn
Blanco Encalada (armorclad, of $50
tons) and is about to receive into SCI
vice the Captain Prat, which is prac
tically ready for delivery by her built
ers. In each of the countries tn
political and financial situations ar
such as to render further augmeutatio
of their naval forces improbable a
present.
1t is interesting to note that ou
nearest neighbor on the south, Mexicc
has thoughts of creating navy. Sh
has caused to be built abroad a &c
ton cruiser for use as a training shiI
and expects to establish naval scho
with a staff of instructors under Pos
Captain in the British navy. The on
come Of these first efforts will /
watched with much intprast