The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-26
Magnificent Display Of Great
Britain's Naval Strength
Off Spithead.
The Progress in ShipbuiIding
During Victoria's Reign Was
Forcibly Shown Today.
MANY NATIONS REPRESENTED.
prlace Of Wales Representing Her Majesty Re;
viewed Pine Fleet Of Foreign Warships--
Closing Event Of Jubilee Celebration.

Portsmouth. Eng, June 26.-The most
magnificent display OF naval strength
ever witnessed occurred off Spithead to-
day. the occasion being the grand naval
review held In honor OF the completion
Victoria. The Prince of Wales. repre-
senting her majesty. reviewed a fine
fleet OF foreign warships. representing
all the maritime nations OF the world.
proudest strongest and swiftest of these
craft being the United States armored
cruiser Brooklyn, flying the flag of Rear
Admiral Miller. The heir apparent also
inspected about 30 miles Of British war
ships, In which were 165 fighting ships
OF different classes, carrying about 900
heavy guns. manned by over IS, 900 men
and of about $4,000 tons In all.
Each maritime nation sent an admiral
In his flagship to witness the review.
They formed a line abreast Of the Brit
ish battleships, where they were favor
ably placed to compare their own naval
architecture with that Of other nations
Each nation sent its best available ship
and magnificent display resulted.
At Spithead this morning was as
sembled the latest triumphs Of the in
dustrial revolution under Victoria; tri-
umphs Of workers In iron and steel and
metals, trtumphs of inventors. triumphs
Of chemists and the giants OF the labor.
atory. triumphs Of the shipbuilder, the
engineer and the ertizan, triumphs Of
the genius OF q great nation.
This day may be designated better by
dgures. In 1887 the total number OF
ships In commission was 1885, Omitting
steam paddle tugs. not then considered
vessels Of war, and other small crafts
such as cutters, receiving ships, yachts
and packet brigs. the navy list COM
prised 129 ships, whereof the largest had
aaGlisplacement of 1000 tons. The navy
list this year-including ships In and out
OF commission, but on the list-com-
prises 439 vessels, mounting 1859 guns
with a tonnage of 1,463.219 and horse
power Of 1,S87,595.
The fleet was drawn UP In seven lines
on the south Of the Solent, the head of
the lines being off Brading, thence
stretching westward almost to Cowes.
The outer line Of all on either side of
the Sturbridbe shoal and known as "E"
In, line, was composed OF IA merchant
vessels whereof the American liner
New York" was one. Next in "a"
line were the foreign men-of war.
"B." &C." 3D." "F," "G" lines con-
sisted entirely Of British men n-of war
from the Majestic and Renown, the
latest type Of battleships, down to the
smallest torpedo boat "B," &c" lines
were made up Of battleships and cruisers
OF the first and second class, ID" of
third class cruisers. gunvessels and tor
pedo gunboats. 'F' of destroyers, gun
boats and sailing training briggs, while
&c" line was OF torpedo boats. All the
lines except &c" were approximately
i've miles in length.
Half Of Engiand's Naval Strength.
Two things are to be noted after
tour Of this tremendous aggregation
of sea-fghting power. The first is that
fact that, IL need be. their number and
fighting value can be duplicated. as this
fleet was only the channel squadron and
coast defence fleet. slightly augmented