The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28
ENGLAND's NAVAL PROGRAMME.
Views or what u should Be-what France ana
Russia Are Doing.

Before long the naval programwe for the
coming year will be considered IN the Britt.
lsh House OF and IN view Of that fact
the PaH Man Gd-otfe discusses what is needed.
The steady incrrase in Ensland's ne y con-
struction is shown by the fact that while three
sears ago "3.S40.o 900 was considered sufficient
Tor the annual contribution. two years ago the
amount was made s3l.l55.ooo and last ycas
s35.s.5.ooo. Thus II had increased more than
one-half in two years. or course. the full ma
val expenditures include also he enormou,
sums for tho maintenance OF existing ships.
or the ships now In hand and no, COMPLETED
there are eighty-three IN all. nearly half, how
ever. being torpedo destroyers, which can easily
be finished before loaE. In addition, ave bat
lie ships OF the Majestic class are nearly ready,
and should he IN commission this wear. wbilc
SIX OF the second class are virtually finished.
Scvera! other shins are nearly ready. As n
whole. naval construction in England is extra
ordinarily rand, aud in that respect she is
ahead OF nll the rest Of the world.
The i've newes, bartle shlps. however, are
little advanced. The Canupus and the Coll.
not Yet begun. and tho Sibi"n ana ~ ~ Dvesn Is
been nut out 10 contract.
EnSlana's naval work IS largely regulated
oy what France and Russia are doing. her prin.
'inle being always TO have as large u force avail.
able as these two countries combined. Now.
IN the thr"e years Just spoken OF. the dual nlU,
ance has laid down only nine tirst.class haiti.
ships TO England's ten. two small battle shin,
inc name nnnloer OF irst-clAss cruisers as Eng
lahu' ionr smaLl cruisers. and fewer tor
pedo honts. so far. therefore, England Il sat-
isied but the authority quoted thinks thai. IN
make assurance dOubly sure, IL would La wsNI
10. provide for laying down five more hatti.
ships this year, As to cruisers. England lns
Il splendid heet OF them. but may need, more;
France has on the stocks three 2a knot cruisers
ami Is laying Town as many more Russia mas three
OF ~ Knots hulldins, ana Germany has nve. We
want, then. from four TO eisht OF 90 knots Ets
WICK mas butt shIps much smaller thnn our II nnn
u neH prcnrS IN s q a az mat rate; ami OF the
tons. 30 we ask nothing Impossible. We ranno, a,
FORA , TAN III the least behind In tic mntr.r r,
speed: " we decide To construct enormous shtns al,
tue Powerful tyIe. we should Further eI,e sors
protection by armor on the water IIne a IN ~.
TWO new French Jeanne d'Arcs. II may IA. t.r,r ~
practt ANY certain tnat France will cousi1gT,bIy
supplement- tue humber or cruisers gwen ahnvs -
about 20 h. laid down this year. :"
W dcsiruNers "" have now ninety huff, or ,o,,
piethS' bht We want more. The French ann Rus,
slAE iorpcio notlilas are very iarge. ana thourh
be Sharply watched, Moreover. We krow ny
perlehcc that our destroyer are very frautI. sri
Halle 10 continual hreakdowns. Used "a Iney Iii
hr used IN war. we shall have 10 connt ~, -
thlng Ike 80 or 10 per cent. ms AWAY. nn,,.nn'n.
repair, They are vessels. however. whirh IN "'se
rhn hlN constructed. ami IL would nrobabIy snni,.
W. IAuu Gown ten. III any type OF vessel mas 10 20.
20 give more money for our battle ships, IL shouidI,
the destroyer. ~" ~
More ships demand more men. and hcrco
lhrsr rs nave been EnElant's additions Ia lar
naval personnel, she Will need To make CtL.rs
lnoES lsAl present a total, we believe. OF M.
wv lo'G'scrNice anu ~. 1000 reserve men mad
the former Will probably be Increased I, IL
reach $4,000, and II Is evident thai While M
I. Gns like Russia, Germany, and Franc. nI,i,,.
tam great land forces, Great Britain I'M. nm
enormous army AdoAt. -"