The evening times., 1898-06-14
INCREASING THEIR STRENGTH.
England, France, Germany nnd Nus-
sfa md Japan Bufld New ships.

England. France, Germany nnd Nus-
sfa and Japan Bufld New Ships.
The naval shipbuilding progress of the
world is isft forth in recent issue from
the naval intelligence office, containing
a review Of the developments in all lines
of naval work. Great Britain, as usual, is
shown to be leading all other powers In
the extent of her program, but France Is
q good second. and both Germany and
Russia are spending large sums annually
on building schemes. covering certain
periods of years.
Great Britain's program for this year
has been Increased by supplementary
vote of S. 435, 600 for new construction In
addition to the regular budget This
money is to be spent in beginning the con-
struction of one battleship, four armored
cruisers and four torpedo boat destroyers,
bringing the new construction to begin
during the present year up to four bat
tleships, three of which will be of 1900
tons and one of i, $50 tons; four armored
cruisers of H;S50 tons each; three third
class cruisers of Z, 135 tons each; six gum
boats, four of 100 tons and two of 300 tons
each; eight light-draught river gunboats,
six torpedo boat destroyers and one royal
yacht On these ships and for the con-
struction of others building the sum OF
slO7. coo, Geo will be expended
Building, or to be ordered within the
next two months, are los vessels of all
classes, of which there are fourteen bat
tleships eight first-class cruisers, nine
second-class cruisers, tifty-two torpedo
boat destroyers and the remainder small
cruisers and gunboats. The three large
battleships to be laid down this year will
be of the Majestic type and are to be
built at the government dockyard. Their
displacement will be the same as the
Majestic. but their mean drausht will be
less by nino inches. An additional ten
feet in length will bring them up to 400
feet and compensate for the decreased
draught, and also tend toward greater
speed, for il is intended that the new ves-
sells shall make eighteen knots under nat
ural draught.
The four armored cruisers will be
among the most powerful of this type of
vessel in the world and all are to be built
in private shipyards. They will have
length of 440 feet. beam of 60 feet and a
mean draught of 26 feet, and will be arm
ed with two 9-inch and two 10-inch guns.
twelve 6-inch, fourteen 12-pounders and
three 3-pounders. Their bottoms will be
sheathed and coppered for cruising pur-
poses. Not less than twenty-one knots
per hour will be the speed requirements.
The cruisers will be of about the same
type as the Detroit and the gunboats a
little larger than the Bancroft
Inc naval tApdHsion IN progress ana
projected for the coming year in France
is more extensive than that of any of the
continental powers. The budget for this
year appropriates S55, los, 600. a large in
crease over that of the previous year.
Frances building program extends over
a period of eight years and will agere-
gate in 1905 about s14i, ,3C0, co, making an
annual expenditure for increasing the
strength of the fleet s1S0o00JO France
has now under construction twelve bat
tleships and nine armored cruisers. be-
sides an enormous number of torpedo
boat destroyers and smaller ships.
Germany's naval program is also de-
signed TO considerably expand her
strength on the sea. 1t provides tha. by
1904 il shall be composed. exclusive of tor
pedo boats. gunboats and vessels for spe-
cial purposes. of seventeen ships Of the
line. eight armored coast defense vessels
nine large cruisers and twenty-six small
cruisers. besides nine large ships in re-
serve. Toward this flee. there are now
building twelve ships of the line. eight
coast defense vessels, ten large cruisers
and twenty-three small cruisers. leaving
seven small cruisers to be completed
within the fixed period.
Russia has recently completed a 13. eco
ton ba-tleship and has another sister ship
building. Besides, she has a number of
small cruisers. twelve torpedo destroyers
ana several tOrpeuo DcitS puliuihS- fer
program this year is not yet fully de-
termined upon.
The growth of Japan's naval strength is
shown to be remarkable. both as TO the
number and strength of vessels being
added to her force. In 1896 she brought
out a program, to be completed in ten
years, involving an expenditure of
sl92. oo1. CO. and to give her four battle |
ships, four armored cruisers. three sec |
ond-class protected cruisers, two third !
class, eighty-nine torpedo boats and /
number of smaller vessels, all in addition |
to her present available navy.