The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-16
THE NAVAL POWERS.
A Years Progress In the War YES
sells Of the World.
Great Britain, as Usual, Loads All
Others.

f-Se-'" Va eho Wor'u uurlnB inc past year
and shows that In Europe the peopIs arr
demanding additions to the fleets an on
iarged enlisted force and an improvement
In present equipment as safeguards to at
tack from their noighbors. Millions nj
ooiiars are being yearly expended In new
construction, the manufacture Of great
guns, torpedoes and all other instrument,
OF naval warfare. Russia has programme
contemplating an expenditure OF over
$500, 600, 600, and France is trying to keen
ahead Of all other nations except Great
Britain IN tho strength of her naval forces.
Russia Is shown to be watching both Ger
many and France with caution, and in
tends having In "a few years navy that
can guard her small coast line from al
most any attack. Germany's naval budget
Is not 30 large as that of her neig Dor IS,
put The emporor's Instructions that moro
| attention must be devoted TO the navy
than heretofore will lead to a naval estab-
lshinont In "A few years double her present
strength. Even China Is ambitious to
have big navy, and Is now looking
around TO find whore she can have her
battleships constructed to tho best advan-
taee. Japan's policy, when carried out,
Will give her n fighting strength on the
seas equal IL not superior to that of the
United States at present. Spain, how
ever. Is far behind other European powers
In the cf.cctiTcncss Of her navy, and Italy
10 milking llttle progress and is weary OF
building great battleships.
On the subject Of torpedo boats the ex-
perts show that the speed is creeping up-
ward yearly. A French boat has broken
tho record with speed Of 81. 02 knots. and
now knsland has undertaken TO build two
boats to make 80 knots or better.
In construction and vastness of pro.
gramme Great Britain continues to lead
the world. She has appropriated for her
navy this year sl06, 200, 100, which exceeds
tho eriginalestDnates of the preceding year
by S15,O 900, OC0 sand those of 1894 by SCI -
100000. The policy OF pushing ali work
TO an early completion Is 10 be vigorously
carried out. The new vessels authorized |
comprise battleships, first class cruis- |
ers, second class cruisers, third class |
cruisers and 80 torpedo boats of the 30 |
knot type, of which were ordered before
the estimates were submitted. Three
battleships, first class cruiser and |
third class cruiser are to be built at the
navy yards, and the remainder will be
built by contract. Great Britain presents
a naval Programme by far tho bust IN her
history. She Is now building 13 first class
battleships, 10 first class cruisers, 16 Sec
ond class cruisers, third class cruisers
and As torpedo boats
frances naval DEVELOPMENT continues
TO Keep pace with that carried out by her
during the past three years Five years
ago she outlined programme of new con-
covering period of nine years
and 10 include 81 vessels. The develop-
nent OF this has been interfored with from
year TO year, owing to the failure of the
french parliament TO make the necessary
The total programme
when carried out will cost the govern.
nent about s170, 000 600, which, distributed
ver ten years, will really amount to a
early increase of $4,000, coo over the pres
Mt annual expenditures
France this year has voted a total of sac
100000 for her navy, of which 81, 800. coo
J 10 be expended on account of IA new
essels, whose total cost will be e19. OOO..
90.
Germany's naval programme includes
nrst class battleship, 8 first class oruis-
IS and largo feet of torpedo boats. ,
cost sl3,000,000. In tho next three !
Ionths she will lay down in addition to :,
lis Programme three battleships, to cost
'tween So, 900, 600 and So 600, 900 each.
ld seven cruisers, TO cost from 81, 600, 900 !,
$3 200 900 each
The cars naval programme has been !.
ranged to cover period of seven years !.
ia TO cost, when carried out, the enor- ;,
Gus sum of 1921 900, 900. For this wear =,
8 1000, 600 is authorized Three new bat- :.
'ships are to bo laid down soon. arc -
wv building, as we'll as rrotected "
uisers and q torpedo boats. It is also the :,
tention to build il, 600 ton arnored a q
ssel at tho Baltic works.
Considering the depleted condition OF
Spanish treasury, Spain has in con.
nplation a liberal programme for in
'asing her navy. notwithstanding the A
ain upon her resources due TO the Gu
II 'Tttr sire fs-Ts uuthUr1ZCd TINS wear the
lstruction Of a hattlcshipof IL 900 tons. 70
0 5000 ton cruisers, two torpedo vessels 10
I appropriated a largo sum to rcliu YES. In
5 requiring ovorhnuling. la
lhcro has been great activity In the w
W yards in fitting out our ships for m
vice In Cuban waters. Officers were cu
Z To Scotland to inspect nerchnnt ships on
table for conversion into cruisers for =
n service, but none seems 60 have been sai
ured, ana six steamers have been SUD-
I'd with their regular armaments as ke
sels OF the naval reserve and taken into
vice at monthly rental of sI15,OOO. cir
be annual calls especial attention TO IN,
interests manifested by tho Spanish tic
pie In oil parts of the world in the fro
struct!on of large navy, and points TO she
~ instances where libo9al contribu- be
- have been mado for is enlargement.
organization of Spanish subjects I'm fro
Sico is reported 10 havo contributed fo,.
l,O0O toward torpedo vessel, while a br,
iicato Ia Madrid offered TO build a inf
boat free 70 the government for seryjce pre
Cuban waters, Shipbuiluing i'm the 9th
yards Of Spain, the annual SAYS. wo,
'ressos very slowly. II took from 10 20 ~ apr
: To build the cruiser ReiEa Mercedes. wn,
another of "a same type. whose keel N
laid In 1850, Is still on the ways The
OF building in the navy yards IS fror,
10 foGr times as great as at private
s. or three protected cruisers of the Il
class two were built In England. oltl
ng about $500, 600 each, whilo ono orni
by Spain OF tho same dosiQn cost tne
81 900 0GO The