The Portland daily press., 1895-05-28
THE KEEL CELEBRATION.
Germany's Programme for the Naval
FestiYstieS.

Germany's Programme for the Naval
FestiYstieS.
An AssembIage of Modern War Ships that
Has Never Been Surpassed-Next to
Germany's the Display of Great Brit-
ain Will take the Lead in Size and
Power.-The German Emperor to Di-
rect the Combined Fleets From His
Steam Yacht.
Washington, May 27.-Germanys pro-
gramme for her naval festivities at the
opening of the great Kiel Canal has
been received at the Navy Department.,
and the indications all point to an as
senblage of modern war ships which will
far surpass in size and number any
previous attempt to draw the nayies Of
the world togther at one point in a
grand naval pageant The event will be
one unsurpassed as marine picture
and not in the history of naval powers
were there ever before so many ships of
different nations in single port at once,
Over one hundred war ships of all classes
and of the latest design and type, in
cluding battle ships and torpedo boats,
will be there, and some of the most mag
nifeent naval specimens of the British
and Italian navies, carrying the heaviest
armor and guns adoat, will be present.
The Triple Alliance has been particular
to assist Germany in her celebration, and
both Austria and Italy propose sending a
large squadron under command of their
highest ranking officers. Russia and
/ France have failed to take that interest
in the event which it seems to call for,
and both will probably be outclassed by
the United States in extent of their dis
play.
Germany's programme is not yet com
pleted, but from the statement forwarded
to the Navy Department it is evident
that she intends having every war ship
of the Emperor's in European waters at
lAiel. The total number of ships of all
classes will number about forty, includ-
/ ing torpedo boats, or a larger number
than the entire representation at the New
York naval review, including the thirteen
| United States ships. The Emperor has
personally taken charge of the ceremonies
1
Crown heads, grand dukes, princesses,
and potentates of all Europe are expected
! to be present, and for a week at least the
festivities will be at flood tide. Each
country accepting th invitation to par
ticipate in the naval part of the pro
gramme has selected its highest ranking
officers to command the fleets, and there
will be none in charge lower than the
grade of Rear Admiral Austria heads the
| list in point of rank, and will probably
secure the honor place in the great parade
by reason of her having designated an
movements of her fleet. Great Britain
has Lord Vice-Admiral in command
of her fleet. Italy has a Vice-Admiral,
ALSO while the other squadrons will
have Rear Admirals, including the Unit
ed States, which knows no higher grade
at present The entire floating panorama
will be directly in command Of the Ger
Ieign fleets will take orders from his steam
yacht.
According to the plans received here the
Prince of Wales and high dignitaries of
every naval power in Euorpe have accept
| ed Germany's invitation. The occasion
will be unequalled, it is said, not only in
point of number of ships, but will be the
| first time where so many nations have
been represented at once in a harbOr The
total tonnage a1oat will exceed that
probably Of the entire United States navy
during the civil war, and the men on
board the various ships, if landed, would
be equal in number to the regular United
States army.
| Great Britain's battle ships will each
be manned with 673 men and officers,
while Italy's leviathans will have about
| 700 each. The only two triple-screw crui-
sers present will be the Columbia and the
| French ship Dupy de LONE. Every great
| "a nf
| United States, will have from one to four
battle ships there The South American
republics and Japan will be the only
countries without naval representatives,
except China, whose navy has been alb
sorbed by the Japs.. Turkey is said to
have three ships in her navy, and sends
one, while Sweden, with not many more,
will have three. Roumania, a country
which was not supposed to be classed as
a naval power, will have two vessels, and
Portugal one.
Next to Germany's display Great
Britain's will lead il in size and power;
Her flagship will be the battle ship Royal
Sovereign, from which will fly the pen
nant of Vice-Admiral Lord W. T. Kerr,
and commanding the second division Of
the feet will be Rear Admiral A. H.
Abingdon. Three sister ships the EN-
press of India, Repulse, and Resolution,
$50 feet long, IA, $50 tons displacement,
guns now afoat, manned by $3.50 men
and officers and drawing 2 feet of water,
are her other battle ships. These vessels
are all of recent date, and represent the
highest perfection of their type in the
world. They have two military masts
each and batteries of 13 1-2-inch guns,
ten skies and an enormous secondary bat
terry Next to the battle ships in point of
fighting ability will be the crack cruiser
lBlenheim, sister ship of the Blake, which
excited so much interest at New York,
and prototype of the New York. This
will be the first time where comparison
could be made of the relative qualities of
the American and English ship. The New
York. however, is recognized as the su-
perior, both in speed, where she leads the
English vessel by two knots, and the
amount of metal her guns are capable OF
throwing at a broadside. The Bellona, a
partly protected cruiser of twenty knots
speed and 1000 horse power, with the tor
pedo boats Speedy and Halcyon, complete
Great Britain s display.
Italy's will be equal to this if not sur