New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-20

preconcered arrangement between the Foreign
Offices of Paris and St. Petersburg. each country
is TO be represented by the same number Of ships
Of correspOndng tyne France is TO send the
IIoche. the batteship which has been recently ex-
tensivey altered In order to insure stability the
Dupuy de LONE an armored cruiser protected by
a complete coat Of steel and propelled by three
screws and the Surcouf. fast protected cruiser
Russia will also have three vessels. one OF her
Oldest battleshps. a coast-defence vessel ana an
armored cruiser. The Russian display has proba-
bly, been curtailed at the solicitation OF the Frehch
Ministry. which has encountered herce pubic re-
sentiment for accepting the invitation to the hiel
celebration. Ministers have ingeniously contrived
to associate France with Russia in half-hearted
interest in the naval pagean,s, and they VIII PROB
ably seek TO appcase popular wrath by sending
the three ships at the last moment and ordering
them home as soon possible. With all these
safeguards and precautions the acceptance OF the
invitation even in this beggarly way viii probably
hasten the downfall II the Ribot Government
The festivities will open on June u with pam
quets a carnival and Examinations In Hamburg.
Then will follow on the next day the journey
through the Baltic Canal by the Emperor's yacht
and representative ships Of various nations. fol-
lowed by evees. balls banquets and receptions.
the Kiel entrance to the canal will be celebrated
and the Imperial yacht will traverse the lines Of
the great international fleet drawn up in review
order on the closing day there will be evolutons
by the combined fleet. and a regatta, In which all
the North German yachts will take part The
programme. while an elaborate one, has been
worked out in detail with German thoroughness,
and Will be carried out with undertaking precision
It will be a most imposing series Of naval ma
noeuvres. executed by fleets which have never been
tried in actual warfare and the real utility or
| which is unknown-indeeed. the greatest mystery
Of the sea The most experienced commander in
the combined fleet. II he be both wary and candid,
would hardly venture to forecast the result Of an
| actual battle between the strongest squadrons.
lie would be bold. indeed If he were to predict
with any approach TO certainty whether the bat
ucshlps would not so down before the fast cruis-
ers armored and unarmored. or whether in the
final stage OF the survival. 81 the httcst the tiny
torpedo-boais would not be the last vessels
to remain anoat The approaching pageants Will
not throw any light upon controversial questions
Of naval policy. They will offer. however. test
of the seaworthiness Of the battleships cruising
from Italy. France England and other countries;
and also Of the security ard facility with which
simple manoeuvres can be conducted by great
| modern fleet Of over hundred ships
The Baltic Canal. which will be opened for pub
lie traffic on July |, is more remarkable as imam
c.al than as an engineering enterprise. 1t has
been built in seven years. and the actual cost mas
not exceeded the estimates. 1t connects the North
Sea with the Baltic by a waterway about sixty
one miles in length. The engineering dihlculties
have been few, and II has been possible - con-
struct the canal without locks. except at the ends.
1T for,
unusual tides and currents The preliminary
trials Indicate that the channel Is already deep
enough for the largest bat,lesh!ps. but only the
lighter draught vessels Will be allowed t. pass
through the canal during the festival week.
This canal was proposed primarily BY the Ger
man Government on military and naval grounds.
L. was considered a matter If great Importance .
obtain the means Of effccting a junction at any
| time between the fleets on the Baltic and German
! Ocean Military experts are accustomed 10 fore
cast war as likely 10 break out with startling sud
denness whereas IN reality there IS Invariably n
period OF preliminary uncertainty and suspense
long enough 70 enable the naval authorities 10 on
| centrate their fleets from the four winds OF heaV-
en- The commercial advantages Of the canai are
more substantial than the stratcglcal reasons Tor
constructing IT, There will be n saving II ~ mics
effected between Kicl and Hamburg by the canal
! route: and for vessels from Holland ana England
/ the distance to Baltic ports will be shortened
! about 237 miles As Skager Rack and CatteFat
are dangerous passages whore vessels are re
| oueniy lost. there viii also be marked gain III
the saving Of life AMI cargoes from the constiG'-
/ ton of the canal. The commerce is large enough
| 70 justify the belief that this important WORK
which is about 10 be opened with stately cefe"'-
mails and splendid marine pagcants VIII De a sue
cessfu financial enterprise. In this Iespec, IL
will offer a strong contrast T. the Mhnche-' Yer
| Canal in England. very costly work which mas
not fulfilled the expectations OF the projectors.
l. y. +.