New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-02


fishermen without energy or ambition. The con-
quest OF Schleswig- Holsteln really turned upon
the possession Of Ke' IIarbor. which Prussia
coveted. as the future stronghold of the Baltic.
After 1866 there an immediate change In the
fortunes Of the town. The harbor Notifications
and dockyards were built. and the commercial
importance of Kiel rapidly increased. The Ger
man occupation was profitable thing for the
thrifty population and whatever prejudice there
was against 1t when Prince Bismarck entered upon
his first campaigns In Europe has been dspelled
with the progress of the town in wealth and
prosperity The Empire has transformed the
fortunes Of Kiel. Loyalty - the new order has
substantial basis IL business interest.
PICTURESQUE sCHLEsWlG-HOLSrElN
There is picturesque country about Kiel with
quaint villages and beautiful beech woods. The
farmhouses rest on brick foundations and have
roofs of thatoh or coarse tiles with a high pitch
Windmllls are seen at every turn of the road,
and delightful somnolent villages, with verdant
hedges in place Of fences. are emoowereh IN
;anees trees and vines. 1t is n charming
drive from KEEL to Knoop and Levensau. and
thence westward in the direction OF Rendsburg.
ar old garrison town. whose quaintness VIII sur
fer from the canal traffic of which II Will be
convenient halfway house. The roads are ex-
cellent and the waysde scenes are varied ana
interesting 1t is In this quarter OF Germany
that a stranger can still see peasants going about
in old fashioned wooden shoes and derive new
impressions Of the working capacity OF women
They are In the fields tall 1.-THE and muscular,
tong as laboriousy men. Along the roads
one may meet sturdy peasant woman carrying
two tens gallon pals OF milk slung from wooden
yoke around her shoulders, walking as straight
as a young pine and knitting stockings as she
goes. Gmpses like these suffice TO convince a
traveller that a German peasant woman is per-
haps the most industrious worker in the world
SOME OF THE WARsHIPs.
The main ceremonies of the opening Of the
canal ! have described in a previous letter but
something ought to be added about what was
the most important feature of the celebration. al
though it received too little attention from the
concourse Of sghtseers. That the fleet Of
warshps that was Jumbled together in the har-
Dor without any attempt al classification or ar
rangement. l am not intending to catalogue 1t
or to describe it in detail. but aim simply to
single out few Of the vessels which stood out
among the others by virtue of characteristic pc
culiarities or novelty of aspect. The most re-
markable warship In external appearance was
the French flagship Hoche. a monster without
grace or even form, looking like strongly forti-
fed island rather than vessel 1t Is perhaps
the most characteristic ship in the French Navy.
but represents experimental methods OF construc-
ton which have required readaptation and ex-
tensve changes. The Hoche is undoubtedly a
very formidable warship. and her seaworthiness
is vouched for by French experts but the super
fetal observer cannot convince himself that 50
top-heavy vessel could survive heavy bonn
bardment. The Dupuy de LONE. anchored near
the Hoche, was also a very conspicuous ship-an
armored cruiser protected by complete coat OF
steel. This is also an experimental ship. whose
real efficiency is matter Of controversy among
naval experts.
The English. Italian and German fleets were
the most powerful in the harbor and there were
battleships of the most recent type under each
flag The British lagshps. Royal Sovereign ana
Empress of India, magnificent floating
fortresses without signs Of top-heavness or over
weight from batteries. Two Of the italian battle
ships were equally impressive, Sardegna and Re
Umberto, with a record for speed which entitled
them to rank as the fastest vessels OF their
class afioat The German battleships were In
ferior in tonnage and speed to their rivals, out
were not overweghted with ar ments and had
stanch seaworthy appearance. The Russian
battleship Jmperator Alexander III represented
an earlier type of construction. and contrasted
unfavoraby with other vessels OF her CLASS
There was a remarkably fine exhibition or tor
pedo- boats under the German flag, and England
and Italy were also we'll represented in this arm
Of the service. Among cruisers the American
squadron was easily in the lead. The Columbia
was the fastest vessel in the combined Meet
and the New-York was superior 10 the Enghsh
Blenheim, and on even terms with the best Ger
man cruiser a very fast and we-designed ship.
Without regard for speed or efficiency as fghtihg
vessels the American cruisers were admitted by
nearly all observers to be the handsomest ana
most graceful ships in the harbor. They look
fast" was the comment which was almost GER
tain to be added. Mr. Cramp. who was one OF
the interested spectators at Kiel. had reason to
admire his work.
AN EXHIBITION OF HUMAN CREDUIITY.
MAGNIFICENT as was the spectacle of this great
fleet OF battleships and cruisers, there were can
did critics who were ready 70 condemn 1t as a
marvellous exhibition Of human creduliiy and
folly. An old sea dog in full uniform said to
me: What fools mortals are! Think OF the
millions Of treasure expended upon these battle
ships without airy assurance that they VIII be
worth anything in actual warfare, command
one of the ships. brit let me tell you frankly
/ would not like to 60 into battle with her The
world has not witnessed great naval war for
generation. The first real engagement at sea Will
reyolutionize naval architecture. Then we shall
all find out that arnOr will not protect snip,
and that the torpedo-boats will have the proud
est fleets at their mercy. Tha splendid armada
is an exhibition fleet which would not survive
systematic torpedo attack or wen-directed fire
from the fortresses and batteries yonder. This
was not the opinion OF a grumbler or pessimist.
but OF ar intelligent. broad-minded commander
OF one OF the best ships IN the harbor. Possibly
he overstated the case but there was great force
In his argument respecting the uncertainties or
EXPERT work and naval architecture in piping
,,,res ~ neace when there has been no real