The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-03

country. The displacement OF the first
class battleship 10 her present pro-
gramme Is 1890 tons: that OF the second
class 1850 tons France. with IA enec-
tive vessels I'm service. exclusive OF tos-
. pedo boats. has building programme
calling for an increase OF thirty-three
vessels. OF which ave. possibly six. are
bat,leships. and four are armored cru;s-
ers Russia has eighteen Ships building,
OF which fifteen are armored: In service,
one hundred. Italy has IN service seven
ty-one vessels: the number building is:
Armored. eight tsix battlesbipsl. ana un-
armored. seven. Germany mas seventy
four efficient ships. and - building four
armored and four unarmored. Spain rs
showing increased activity. and is build
Ing ten additional vessels. OF which one
half are armored. which will make
total effective strength OF fifty-two. The
Dutch navy numbers ninety-two effective
vessels: the additions are 10 be three
armored and four unarmored vessels.
on this continent. Argentina, Brazil.
and Chile have all told, ordered abroad
six armored and nine unarmored ves-
sells.
For The Asiatic powers there are now
building In England two battleships Tor
Japan, and a third will probably be COM
menced soon. These are of the English
lkoldl sovereign type VI oN'i i''S'~ 49,
displacement. and 1t Is proposed to sub
nit TO the Diet a programme looking
toward further increase, which, with the
addition Of the vessels captured from
China in the late war. Will place Japan
among the important naval powers OF the
world.
France leads I'm the possession OF tor
pedo boats. with 2is in service and nfty-
four building: Great Britain has lS IN
service and sixty-two under construction.
Spain is doubling her torpedo boat force.
and Japan, taking a lesson from her
experience In the late war, and having
already with those captured from the
Chinese) a total OF forty in service, Is
building seventeen more.
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
Secretary Herbert recommends That
Congress authorize the enlistment OF
1000 additional men for the navy, the
enlistment authorized by the last Con-
gress having been complete when the
Indana's crew was made up. me re-
port says.
our naval militia are promising bodies
of young and vigorous men, but we
cannot rely on them alone; they lack
organization and training. and are IN
sufficient even in numbers. We have,
besides the ships just mentioned, me
feet in our reserve navy. From the
American Line alone we could draw
four ships-the New York the Paris, the
st. Paul. and st. Louisa magnificent
squadron. il armed and manned: but we
have not man to put upon one OF them.
and no authority OF law TO accept the
services of a single one of the thou
sands who. I'm case of need. would vol
unteer to serve. All this ought not TO
be. 1t lis the height OF reason to pay
s1.ts1r Tor 10
call them our auxiliary navy. unless we
have the means OF arming them. II IS
folly 10 maintain these ships and pro-
cure arms for them II we are never TO
man them, and certainly II is unwise
and short-sighted 10 defer making any
provision by law for procuring the men
who are 10 utilize these vessels until
after the emergency of an always-pos-
sble war shall have arisen.
There is no other nation that has 80
much OF the material OF war that Is so
little prepared 10 utilize IL. that has so
much of a personnel available. and that
is so utterly without authority or law
10 employ II. The department needs
present authority TO enlist the thousand
men asked for. and this number will be
sufficient. II the policy herein outlined
be approved by Congress, 10 answer all
the necessities OF the Government while
we are so fortunate az 10 be on peace
footing: It will certainly suffice for years
TO come.
But Congress should not stop. here.
Some provision should at once be made
by law for calling into the service. when
ever there shall be need of them, sail-
ors TO man. at least, all the vessels when
are in the pay Of the Government ana
liable to be called into service. 1t Is
SUGGESTED that. I'm order 10 be able 10 man
orr reserve fleet. and such naval vessels
rs may not have full crews. the Presi-
dent be authorized 10 enlist In the naval
service. upon exigencies TO be judged or