The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-02-22

large amount of material was accumu-
lated before the first keel plate was laid.
The preparation of this material occtl-
pied several months. and this time is
properly additive to the period Of con-
struction.
THE BRITISH NAVY IN 1895. -5s.
During the year the Admiralty has
been busily engaged in carrying out the
program of construction prepared about
eighteen months ago. There have been
during the year under construction IN
the dock yards and in private shipbniid-
ing establishments: Ten frst-class bat
tie ships. one of 1850 tons, nine OF ID
000; two first-class armored cruisers OF
14.20O tons, and four Of 11.00O; thirteen
protected cruisers of about 5000 tons and
two of 2, 100; four gun vessels of $50 to
1850 tons; about fifty large frst-class
torpedo boats of els to 300 tons, and ten
of about 100 tons. Two of the battle
ships were completed last month, and
the remaining eight will be finished by
April 1, 1897. The last cruisers laid
down-four of 11,00e tons, four OF $3.50,
and two of 2,100-will not all be ready
for service until year later
In France construction for the navy
has. received severe shock by the de-
cision of the Budget Committee OF the
Chamber of Deputies to grant only q
small portion of the sum requested for
laying down additional ships. Six years
ago a very pretentious building program
was mapped out, but the failure OF the
Chambers to supply adequate funds has
reduced the number that were to be built
more than one-half, and now it has al
most entirely broken down. France
fears the enemies which can come TO her
by land more than those that may ap-
proach over the water, and the enormous
cost of her army eats up almost all her
available spare cash There are build
ing nine first-class battle ships, Of 1900
to 10000 tons but the work OH them is
proceeding slowly; none of this class
was completed during the year, but
three second -class battle ships were fin
ished and passed into service, and one
other is nearly completed. Three ? ar
mored cruisers of 4.700 tons and one OF
$500 tons were completed during the
year: one of 4 700 tons, one of $500 and
two of about 5000 are building. Ten
protected cruisers are under construc-
tion, and three others contracted for; two
of the latter, of about $500 tons, are con-
fessedly modelled after our Columbia and
Minneapolis.
Russia is continuing her naval con-
struction with unabated vigor. There
are building eight first-class battle ships
of 5000 to 10000 tons, three third-class
battle ships Zone nearly completely OF A.
100 tons, three large armored cruisers OF
about 10000 tons (these are nearly equal
to first-class battle ships in battery pow
er and to the fastest cruisers in speed),
one protected cruiser two arnlored gun
large torpedo boat of the Solzol type and
fifteen Of IS to 120 tons. One battle ship
of $500 tons and one Of 10000 were COM
5pleted during the year. The three heav-
lest Of the battle ships now building
the Pcltava, the Sevastopol and the Petro-
spaulovsky OF 1900 tons---were modelled
after our Indiana class, and closely re-
se1nble then-a great compliment to our
constructors Russia is obtaining the
armor for her new ships almost wholly
from the United States having given
large contract to the Carnegie Company
whose plate defeated the foreign COM
petitors in a recent trial in Russia-while
the Bethlehem company is supplying ar
NOR for under a previous contract, and
has Just received new one.
The finances of Italy are in such
bad shape that her naval construction
ldE9 d1luOSt CUlllC ~ a. SLkLlAoLlll ASc LIZ"
vessels except torpedo boat or two are
provided for in the last estimates, but a
sum left over from the previous year is
utilized in commencing two second-class-
cruisers and two torpedo vessels. ~
Like other continental powers, Ger
nlany is more fearful of attack by land
than by sea- and the enormous cost of the
army leaves little money available for
the navy. There is but one tirst-class
battle ship Q1,OO0 tons) building, but
four similar vessels were completed about
a year ago. A large and fast armored
cruiser Of 10000 tons and three protected
cruisers of about 4. 800 tons have been be-
battle ships of $500 tons were completed
during 1895, and two are building; also
dispatch vessel Of 1000 tons. The four
7,50O-ton battle ships Of the Sachsen type,
built about twenty years ago, are to he
repaired rearmed, and fitted with new
engines and boilers, and other old ships
worth the expense will be taken in hand
and nodernized as far as possible. Those
not worth repairing will be condemned
and replaced by new ships. It is co,rsid-
cred that the North Sea- Baltic Canal has
much strengthened Germany's position
OF the wafer, as she can meet attack on
either side OF the Danish peninsula by
transfer Of vessels through the canal
There were completed for our navy
during the year The first-class battle ship
Indiana of 10,290 tons, the seccnd-class
battle ship Maine OF 600 tons and the
Texas of $500 tons the double-turreted
monitor Alnphitrite Of 4,G00 tons, and the
armored ram Katahdin of 2,150 tons.
There are under construction two first
class battle ships-the Massachusetts, and
Oregon-of 10,290 tons. the iowa of H.
400 tons, the ISearsarge and the Kentucky
of II, ,525 tons, the armored cruiser Brook
lyn Of 9,275 tons; monitors, the Puritan
of 5000 tons, the Monadnock and the Ter |
ror OF 1000 tons, three gunboats, the VIII
mington. the Nashville and the Helena
OF about 1,400 tons, three torpedo boats |
of 142 tons, two of about 300 tons, one of
1S2 tons and one submarine boat of 1856 I
tons. "t -
Spain has reached the end of her finan-
cial tether as regards her navy, and moth |
ing of Importance is projected. One az |
mored cruiser Of ! 900 tons has been COM
pleted during the year and another is |
well advanced. Three others Of the same /
class and one Of 1900 tons are building. !
Japan is rapidly becoming a formida |
BILE naval power She captured two bat
tie ships Of 1880 tons and two armored I