The San Francisco call., 1897-09-27
NEWS OF FoREloN NAvIEs.

Ashipyard backed by French capital and guar
anteed by the Russian Government is to be
established on the Neva near the Baltic ship
yard at St. Petersburg. 1t is TO be used chiefly
for the construction of torpedo boats.
Russia is nego tiating with Korea for the use
OF Getsubi Island, Chemupo harbor, for a coal
depot, but as this particular island is said to
have been leased to al American, who is
using it for a coal supply station, Russia will
probably have to select another less desirable
locality.
The French naval estimates for 1897-9S ex-
ceed those OF the prior fiscal year by So ,000,-
600 and are about $56 00O, 900. 1t is contem-
plated to lay down fourteen vessels, two OF
which are bat ships. The agitation for
better navy, started by NJ. Lockroy. is making
good headway and is very popular throughout
the country.
There are thirty ships in course of construc-
ton for the British navy, fourteen of 1873, ,020
tons at the doekyards and sixteen of III 375
tons in private yards. This number does not
include smaller craft of which thirty torpedo
boat destroyers, each OF $50 tons, and eight
shallowdraught steamers, are all being built
in private yards,
Armstrong, Whitworth & Co. of Eswick
have instructions from the Italian Govern
ment to extend the capacity of the firms yard
at Pozzouli, on the Bay OF Naples, and an
armor plant is now being added to the gun
factory. Itis the in tention of the Italian Gov
ernment to make the Bay of Naples the chief
ship-building center OF the navy.
The general results OF the :homing pigeon
service during the recent Italian naval man
euvcrs have been made public ana are on the
whole salts actory. The principal centers
were esta blished aboard the Stella and aboard
the Savoya. Four flights were made, OF which
one from the Stella at Maddalena, fifteen
hours from Rome, and the speed OF the five
birds in each flight averaged AIS mile an
hour.
The Marine Engineer, London, com menting
on the United States battle-ship Indiana being
dOcked at Halifax, says: sit can only be the
extreme confidence OF the United States as to
its immunity from foreign attacks, or their re-
lance upon retaining the friendship of Great
Britain under any circums tances, that would
permit her statesmen to so neglect the pr1m-
ary conditions of safety, as regarded from a
British or Continental point OF view, that they
would be dependent upon us for dock accom-
modations for the repairs of their battle
ships"
Up to August IT the three battle-ships bull
ing at Devonport, Pembroke and Chatham had
worked up the following weights in their
hulls: Canopus 3460 toas. Goliath 3176 tons
and Ocean 3277 tons. The first two named
had their keels laid January a last, and the
Ocean was begun on February 10. The rivalry
of the three yards in the matter OF speed OF
work and economic results has very greatly
reduced the cost of dockyard work during the
past year. and at Pembroke, where the cruiser
Hannibal is under construction, IT is claimed
that up to the present time the cost per ton is
IS 70 less than of the Andromeda, also built
at that yard, at the same state of completion
two years ago.
The small feet of Germany is kept very
active, and the naval msneuvers and exer-
cises which extended from August TO Septem-
Der IA consisted of IL battle and coast-defense
ships, protected cruisers, training ships,
10 torpedo-bo and other vessels. The
tire feet passed through the Kaiser Wilhelm
canal from the North Sea to the Baltic. The
battle-ships made the trip in ten and half
hours at a speed of five knots an hour, ana the
torpedo-boats consumed about six and half
hours for the passage. There were thirty-six
men-oI-war at one time in the canal, but their
presence did not interfere with the ordinary
traffic, and me reliant ships passed both ways
with slight Interruptions. The greatest
draught of any os the ships of war was that of
the Koenig Wilhelm, 26 feet inches. and the
successful pass ge dem onstrate the strategic
importance of the canal to Germany, although
il yet re mains to be proved whether the North
Sea approaches are available at all times and
under all conditions OF sea and wind.