The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-23
GREECE AND TURKEY At SEA.
The sultan'- Navy Zig ON Paper. but Inferior
20 King Georges In Rnct.

"Nts
Were It left entirely with Greece to deal with
Turkey In the present emergency, her success
could be counted on. Although outnumbered
ten to one on land. and, as regards ships, far be-
low her antagonist in number and displacement,
her enthusiasm and fighting qualities are SUI
pcrior. and she would dispute every inch OF
ground on her northern boundary. The navy OF
Turkey is an obsolete fighting force. Most Of
her ships have been In ordinary for years,
their officers and crews utterly without train
ing. Many OF these ships need new boilers and
repairs throughout. Her best ships have been
sold. and 1t is said that there are but three OF
her large armorcd ships that have any fighting
value. Tho torpedo station at the Golden Horn
is incomplete, and Turkeys torpedo fotilla
is regarded as OF very doubtful value. Tho
flagship OF the station. the Assar-i.Tewhk, has
been two years without boilers. An armor-
clad. the Haiuideijeh. was launched In Constan.
tinople in 1885, and there is a rumor that she
has had her trial trip. but her speed Is un-
known. What is known is that her guns arc
not yet mounted. although twelve years have
elapsed since she was built. The Abdel Kader.
a battle ship Of lO,65O tons, with four ll-inch
Krupp breech leaders and a steel belt of ? to IL
inches. will be very formidable. but as she is still
building II looks as II her history would be made
In the twentieth century. The Osmanieh seems
to be the sultan's only available battle ship at
present, although the others might be brought
out quickly under pressure. The Osmanich is
OF 6,i0O tons displacement and has a loinch
sarmor belt, with two lo-inch breech leaders in
barbette forward and one aft and ten 5.9inch
krupp brcech leaders. She has also six 3.8-inch
quick.firers and four small ones, with seven
machine guns and two torpedo tubes.
Merely TO name the Turkish ships and their
ornaments would be very misleading. On pa.
per Turkey has fifteen battle ships, ~seagoing
coast-dcfcncc ironclads and large armored
cruisers, such Ms might be employed In tho first
linc OF battle; seven cruisers, three non-sea.
TNlng de'erec ships and 9 torpedo fiotilla OF
ready 10 go To sea ana engage In hostilities.
There aro said to DO on the roll 10000 sailors
and 1000 marines, commanded by IL Rear Adj.
junior officers Ralore. Our navy Is supposed 10
DC top heavy with q Rear Admirnis, l0Commo-
dorcs, 10 CAPTAINS, and 50 Commanders. Under
TO maintain her idle navy, without cruising,
sniidinS; or keeping 1t ~, any Kind of repair,
erhbly pnid and rationCd.
Greece, on the contrary. has but four ships OF
defence vessels, and n torpedo %iotii!a, upon
M,hrIh sne relies, OF seyenty.eight, Her three
and p~sarN-huilt in France in 1870 have Wp n Sis.
placement OF 5000 tons each, Encl, has a stcSl
PEI, o, . to - Inches. while the forward battery
lis inches OF armor. Each has also rcilnios"n
ana coal protection and ils waicr.tight com.
Eartments. Each is armed with two iO.6inrh
Canct brcoch loading rides Of thirt y.six cslihres
forward, and ono lO.0inch Canet brcrrh londinS
rinc, besides fve S.0'lnch Canct brccci,.ioadinS
Tlnes OF ~ ~calibrcs, seven sin. FOUNDER quick.
nrlhg Ruhs, ana sixteen onc.pounder revolving
cannon, Each has one torpedo tubc forward
anu ono on each beam for Whitchoads.
Greecc's torpedo fiotilla IL Ia GOOD condition.
II consists OF Sin ilrst.class. c,eNC M sccond.cinss'
anu a number OF smaller boats, The total OF OF,
hcers and men u 3,l6a, nctive and well drilled.
No doubt Z Greece were permitted to try con.
count OF herself.