The record-union., 1894-04-28
GERMANY'S NAVY GROWING.
Only Great Britain, France, Rus
sia and Italy Ahead of Her.
Emperor Williams Ambition-Hopes
to Have Fleet Equal co that of
Any Other Monarch in the World
Typical Vessels Described.

The real beginning of Germany's influ-
ence as sea power may be dated from
the time of the greatest strength OF the
Hanseatic League. formed in the early
part of the fourteenth century for the
protection and encouragement of trade
by sea, to whose efforts may be ascribed
the suppression of piracy in the North
Seas and the laying OF the foundation OF
that commercial policy which has since
become the basis of all political relations
between nations. This league became an
association, exercising sovereign power,
aiming at monopoly, negotiating treaties
and declaring war or peace One IN
stance of its strength may be mentioned
in the fitting out of 24S ships, carrying
1900 men. against Denmark.
The jealousy OF other nations and the
consequent withdrawal of trade from
Hansard merchants, with the discovery
of America and other lands, opening new
channels of trade, compassed the down
fall OF the league, as at the same time 1t
witnessed a new development OF ship
building and naval armament.
THE START OF THE MODERN NAVY.
1t was not till after the Franco-Prus-
sian war of IS70-Tl, however, that Ger
many became possessed Of the nucleus of
the sea force, 10 be later known as the
German Imperial Navy, operated by the
Imperial Admiralty. AT this time Ger
many's position as naval Power was
anything but conspicuous. Her SIX IRON
clads, carrying in the aggregate seventy
nine guns, were not to be compared with
Great Britain's fifty-four ships, with III
guns, or indeed, even With Brazil )
eighteen vessels, with siXty-tour guns
the rest OF the maritime nations varying
in their strength between these.
But Germany did not remain inactive.
The navy, soon increased by five armored
vessels, became the possessor, by the
year 1880, of eight more.
The Germans are incredibly strong
along the seacoast. The acquisition OF
Heligoland has deprived foreign nations
of safe coaling harbor, and this has
been strongly fortified. The ship canal
between the North Sea and the Baltic,
first acted upon forty years ago, will be
completed in 1898 and Will cross SchIeS-
wig Holstein. 1t will enable the largest
vessels of Germany or her allies TO pass
through smooth water for twenty-four
miles, while ali enemy's ship must strug-
gle through heavy seas around the point
OF Denmark TO reach the same destination.
GERMANY'S NAVY YARD.
Gerinapy's facilities for ship-building
and ship-arming are very great. The
immense shipyards at Nllhelmshaten,
DantZic and kiel contain plants the value
and efficiency of which can scarcely be
over-estimated. Another one, the Nul
can Works at Stettin, is considered the
finest in Germany, its plant being worth
$4,000, 900. Tie yards at Nllhelmshafen,
which is on the North Sea, and the one at
Kiel, which is on the Baltic, are exceeded
in capacity only by the Spezia yards in
Italy and the Toulon and Cherbourg in
France.
II. ie,, oaA hor rLr ol,
The site was bought in 1913 from the
Province OF Oldenburg for 5000, ,O00. 1t
was long time before it could be of
much use on account of natural disad
vantages. The harbor was not completed
until 1883, but is now most admirably ar
> ranged. Two hayens open out TO the sea,
the outer accommodating four or SIX ar
mored vessels, and the inner, 400 yards
long by 300 wide, having on its front
three dry docks, two of which would
hold tie largest cruisers in existence.
There are houses for ship-building aud
Two small havens.
At kiel is also haven, which is capa-
BILE or hurboring vessels of any size, and
OF building them.
The harbor of Dantzie is smaller, and
is not sufficient TO accommodate the
enormous ships Germany is now con-
structing.
At Cuxhafen is a very commodious
North German Lloyd and the Hamburg
Packet Companies are sent out. In case
of war these flyers would, of course. be
at the service of the Kaiser. These YES
sells have already had set apart for and
duly assigned TO them the batteries and
crews required for service IN them in case
OF war.
HOW THE SHIPS ARE MANNED.
The seafaring contingent of Germany
numbers about $1,000 men, all obligated
to service in time of war. With all the
warships fitted with full compliments
there would be still an estimated reserve
of 5000 men. The force of sailors is Or
ganized in two large divisions, and these
are subdivided. The barbOrS and forts
along the coast are manned by sailors.
Naval apprentices are received for in
strucIion alter the age of IL. The phys
ical examination is strict, but as a rule
German boys are hardy and the majority
of applicants easily pass. The course
consists OF SIX months on board receiv-
ing ship at Kiel and afterward in other
vessels. This preliminary service is con-
tinued the next year in long voyage
across the ocean. Another ship receives
them the third year tor the study of
tillery.
Wages are very low throughout the
German navy. All able seaman is paid
81 90 a month; petty officers receive from
50 to Sl2 month"; and the highest war
rant officer gets only $3.50 year; but
commissioned officers have fairly liberal
allowances beside their small salaries.
4 boy must be II years old at least be-
fore he can enter as cadet He is re-
ouired to pass very strict examination
in mathematics, physics, drawing, French
and English, modern languages being
considered OF the highest importance in
naval officer. a training ship receives
the pupil for cruise of SIX months i'll the
North Sea; then he spends six months in
q marine school at kiel, and six months
moro on board cruising vessel, taking
voyage in which theory is supplemented
bv practice. Then ii he passes another
strict examination he becomes an under
officer.
GUNS, ARMoR AND SHIPS.
It's a sufficient guarantee of the costli-
ness and efficiency of the armaments of
Germlany's armored ships TO state that
the large guns and most OF the secondary
batteries are furnished from the krupp
works at Essen.
All the new armored ships have at
tached two submarine mines and arrange
ments Tor laying mines, also torpedo
boat. They are armored with the latest and
best kind OF armor known at the time of
their building, steel, of course, being used
in the newest ships and in those building.
The latest official classification of Ger
many's navy is by tonnage in the armored
ships and by strength of battery in the
protected vessels. But the best classifica-
tion for descriptive purposes is that of
battleships, armored cruisers, cruiser
frlgates. cruiser corvettes, cannon boats
dispatch boats, torpedo boats, torpedo
hunters, school ships and special service
vessels.
The Brandenburg is the longest. largest
and most affective batlie-shiD in fha ttpr-