The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-03-04
RUSSIA'S FLEET.
Volunteer Steamships Built by Pri-
vate Subscription
Engaged In Commercial Pursuits But
Intended for War Purposes In the
Event of International DIS
turbAncsa

The origin of this peculiar organiza-
tion is interesting. In the last war be
tween Russia and Turkey the formers |
navy was recognized TO be weak, and |
some patriotic subjects of the czar re-
solved TO create by private effort a
force of auxiliary cruisers that might
be useful in case a naval power should
intervene on the side of Turkey. Sub
scriptions were started in the chief
towns, and in a few months about
100000 roubles We're collected. With
these the Alsatia, the Lotharingia, and
two other steamers belonging to the
North German Lloyds were purchased.
Not very long afterward peace was
concluded. so that the work of the four
vessels proved to have consisted chief
ly of conveying the sick and the wound
ed and transporting troops from San
Stefano to the Black sea ports.
In casting about for a new sphere of
duty for the volunteer fleet, it was de-
cided to have them ply between Rus
sia's European ports and Vladivostock.
But the first operations of the fleet
as a commercial venture were not
encouraging. There were no prof
it's, and there was talk of turning them
over to the Black sea trade. However,
the direction of them was transferred
to the minister of marine, and present
ly an era of prosperity for the fleet
began. The numbers increased, and
now the fleet is managed by commit
tee representing the treasury, war.
navy and audit offices, the president,
who is generally AN admiral, being Sc
lected by the minister of marine. The
! chief executive officer is known as the
| inspector, and the present incumbent
of the office is Col. Linden, who for G
long time had been naval attache in
England, representing the Russian gov
ernnent.
At present the volunteer feet pos
sesses 10 large steamers, each capable
of carrying from 5000 to 5000 tons of
cango, exclusive of bunker coal. They
are the Kherson, Petersburg Saratoff,
Orel, Vladimir, Voronej Kiav, Ekater-
inoslav, Tambov, Yaroslaval, kostroma,
Niini-Novgorod and Khabarovsk. The
first four can make 19 knots and the
others 10 knots. All of them have been
built in England, where also two other
vessels are to be constructed. The orig
inal, acquired in Germany, have been
given up and turned over TO the admir-
atty as training ships
Odessa is the principal port from
which the steamers Of the fleet start
They pass through the Suez canal, and
reach Vladivostock in about 40 days
On the way they call at Port Said
Perrin, or Alden, Colombo, Singapore
and Nagasaki as the principal ports
Only two OF three years ago no more
than seven or eight voyages were made
each year, but, under the present man
agement, no fewer than 22 voyage
are carried out within the year. Thu!
Vladivostock has increased in impor
tance, and he volunteer fleet has rem
dered a great service in building uI
the Asiatic shores of Russia. The flee
is also used in transporting materials
for the Siberian railway, and so add
largely to its earnings, while being o
public service in that way 1t also car
| flSS OUT luuulAk | dllt9 oh0 NOh'ASN9i SA
latter being sent out TO the island
Saghalien, not far from Vladivostosk
It takes back to Odessa soldiers who's
terms have expired; teas from HankoW
the tea trade being entirely in its hand;
and no less than $4,000 tons being car
ried last year; copra, castor seeds an
other produce
1t is also worthy of note that "th
freezing of Vladivostock harbor is nc
s now an insuperable obstacle in the pass
is ing of ships. Last winter vessels eI
e tered the port even when the froze
|. surface had reached a thickness of
r. inches. A canal through the ice fou
K miles long was cut out by saving, tn
huge frozen masses being crushed {
towed away by the government vess
: Siloch. The operations were success
q ful, but in order TO do the work sti
!. more efficiently in future, an ice breal
ls er is being constructed at Copenhagen
Altogether, Engineering conclud'
that, although the volunteer fleet ST
has at Odessa guns ready to be noun
ed for war purposes, yet its chief fun
tions are commercial, and that Il
building up of Asiatic Russia may he
" British manufacturers. In any ever
4, so long as all the ships of the feet con
1t from English yards, the latter cam
W complain. Engineering