The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-07
not attempt the construction of further

iiou aUteIlpU the cOnSUrucblou Vi LUZ oiioi
ships this year
Great Britain's programme shows
steady purpose to maintain her reputa-
tlon of having more powerful navy
than any two other Powers combined
She is now building four frst-class cruls-
ers, having the great length OF 435 feet
with an extree beam Of 90 feet, IL oo
tons displacement and 49, 600 horse power;
and they are expected to develop over ~
knots an hour. Their armament will
consist of 16 six-inch guns, IL 12-pound-
ers, three three-pounders, eight Maxlms
and three torpedo tubes. These vessels
are to be sheathed with teak. Besides,
she has building under the latest pro-
gramme three cruisers of the type or the
improved Talbot, with indicated horse
power Of 10, 900 and displacement OF 6000
tons. They are each expected to make
not less than 20 knots an hour.
RuSSia's naval programme is Tar more
elaborate than in preceding years. She
proposes the building an armored cruiser
of Il, 900 tons of the Russia type, an ar
mored defence vessel of the General Ad
miral type, battleship of the Sessoi
Veliki type, of $500 tons, thirdclass
cruiser Of the Diana class of $3.50 tons and
| a number of torpedo boats. These ships
will all be under construction this year.
| There is now under construction an i'm
perial yacht, which on trial recently
llctcIOp0d 81 10 huOUS WIFI lU,UUO -uOTSC
power.l This vessel will be ready for the
| Gar use in the early summer.
Information to the department. from
Spain states that the government is
| bringing forward its ships as rapidly as
possible: This is particularly noticeable
in the Cristobal Colon, building at Gen
GA, upon which the work is being carried
on night and day, 1900 men being en-
| ployed. The reports show that Spanish
| subjects residing abroad are yet contrib
utlng money for making additions to the
! navy, and the Spanish colony at Buenos
Ayres alone has contributed s400, 900 for
building q vessel, the plans of which
| have not yet been determined upon. The
Admiralty now has under advisement
plans for the construction of II 900 ton
battleship and 6500-ton cruiser
Argentina is making rapid progress in
increasing her naval establishment One
OF the best ships now building for the
Government is the Jose Garibaldi, an
armored 7000-ton cruiser of 1000 horse
power, and q speed of 81 knots The
Almirante Brown, built in France, is
now preparing for her voyage, and will
soon take her place with the fleet. The
cost of the guns and ammunition alone
for the vessel is $780, 900 in gold. Brazil
has recently authorized the building of a
2300-ton coast defence vessel, with a
length of $50 feet and a speed of 20 knots.
uc Su6dIIIlllS TduluS VI UIllS snip WILL De
5000 miles.
Of China's naval programme the re-
port states that she proposes to make an
earnest endeavor to reconstruct her navy
and assume her former rank as naval
Power The bay on the south side of the
Shantung promontory is to be dredged,
fortified, and made a great naval port,
and the arsenal at Fuchau is to be reor-
ganized and enlarged SO as to be capable
of constructing all types of war vessels.
Five protected cruisers fare now being
built FOR the government in Great Brit
ain of 434 feet in length and about 1900
tons displacement Lately four first
class torpedo boats have been ordered
from German firm They are to have
200 tons displacement and 80 knots speed,
and to cost completed S947, 400 They
| are to be delivered within 10 months.
Italy's naval budget for the fiscal year
beginning July next, calls for IS, 667 600
| for new construction.
Japan's programme calls for the build
ing Of one battleship Of IA, 500 tons, and
two ships of the Baltimore class.