The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-11-26
Latest Figures on the Worlds
NayieS.

Tue ilehllllp capacity Oh the DTltlSn ana
French navies, keeping in mind the
theory that the British navy at any Civ
en- time must be equal to the nayies of
France and Russia or Germany and
Russia.
There IS little to choose between the
best battle-ships and cruisers OF Eng
land and those of France The adyant-
age of England lies mainly in her great
numerical superiority. Since 1889 Eng
land has built thirtv-six large battle
/ ships, while France has built but twelve
large battle-ships and four small ones
England has in her active Mediterra-
mean fleet ten battleships-two of the
latest construction, or of the Majestic
class, six Of the older Royal Sovereign
class, and two OF tue CamperdOwn and
Arson class, having little armor. The
ten ships carry forty-eight thirteen
inch and eight twelye-ipch breech load
ers, and ninety-six six-inch quick frers
| There are in the English Mediterran-
can fleet also thirteen cruisers. six gun
boats, seven destroyers, ten modern
torpedo- boats, one torpedo-ram, and
the torpedo and repair ship Vulcan.
! The channel squadron, the most pow
ertul British fleet. has eight of what
| Englishmen consider the best battle
! ships afoat. These are the Majestic.
Magnificent, Mars, Prince George, Jup-
tier, Hannibal. Repulse, and Resolu-
| ton. Six are of the Majestic class and
two OF the Royal Sovereign class. The
fleet carries twentyfour twelve-inch,
eight thirteen and 4 half-inch, and
| ninety-two slx-inch quick firers. There
are in the channel squadron FIVE cruis-
ers and no torpedo-boats. This is
England's flying squadron. ready at a
moments notice to sail to the Medit-
erranean or elsewhere.
The English home fleet is made up of
ten antiquated battieships and two bat
tle-ships of the Camperdown class,
eight cruisers three new, seven gun
boats, and eighteen destroyers In the
first reserve fleet there are eleven old
style ironclads, seventeen cruisers,
three gunboats, and sixteen destroyers
These can be ready for service in fortv-
eight hours. In the second reserve are
several modern cruisers and obsolete
battle ships and twenty destrovers.
These could be made ready for service
in few weeks.
There are twelve vessels in Great
| Britain Is North American squadron,
ten in the East Indies, twenty-six on
the China station, eighteen in the West
| African squadron, seven in the Pacific,
and twelve III Australian waters. Six
teen vessels are on special service, and
there are thirteen ocean steamers sub
sidizcd to serve as auxiliary cruisers in
case of war. In brief, England has
thirty three tirst-class, five second
class, and nine third-class battle-shlps:
torty-tiye first-class, fiitv-four second
class, and III third class cruisers; 1G7
tirst-class, four second-class, and TWEEN
ty third-class torpedo craft and twenty
three port-defense vessels.
The main force of the French navy is
concentrated in the Mediterranean.
|
All have large superstructures, and Mr..
Wilson reports two or three of them as
unstable. They carry their heavy guns
high, in huge, thickly plated tu.rets,
and haye the appearance of being top
heavy, All the vessels carry heavy and
quick-tiring guns of the latest pattern.
There are three armored and ten pro-
teCted cruisers in the active Mediter-
ranean squadron, and six st-class tor
pedo gunboats. There are also in the
Mediterranean five inferior coast de-
Tense ships, three old battle ships, and
in reserve there are three large cruis-
ers, six smaller ones, and the torpedo
boats Of the de ense mobile At Tou-
Ion are several old ironclads, none of
them Formidable.
In tie channel or Northern squadron
France has six battle-ships, seaworthy,
but slow. IN reserve are the battle-ship
Iloche, the old armored cruiser Tur-
enne, and six coast-detense ships
There are four fine cruisers in the &C
tive fleet and five in reserve. There
are torpedo-boat stations all along the
channel. These two suuadrons, constI-
tute the French navy in European wa
tiers. In the navy entire there are
thlrty-elght armOred battle ships OF all
classes, old and new; five armor-clad
cruisers, eight armor-clad coast guards,
eighteen tirst-class, seventeen second
class, and twenty-elgLt third class
cruisers; thirteen guhboats, thirty
three sl0op gunboats, one torpedo
cruiser, th!rty-six sea-coing torpedo
boats, seventy-four frst-class, ninety
two second class and tolty-onc third
class torpedo boats.
The German navy has five first-class.
five second-class, and four third class
battleships one tirst-class. ten second
class, and twentyfour third class cruis-
ers; twenty pOrtde'ense vessels, and
lo2 torpedo boats. The government
subsidies seven Atlantic steamers to be
used as auxiliary cruisers in case of war.
Russia maintains four independent
fleets. In the Baltic feet are ten first
class battle-ships. three powerful cruis-
ers, seven other iirst-Class and eleven
seoond-class cruisers, four torpedo
cruisers, four armor-.lad gunboats. ten
coast guards, thirty-Iine torpedo-boats
OF the FIRST class, and eigirty-one Of the
second class. The Back sea fleet is
composed of seven hattle-ships, two
monitors, one trst-class cruiser, and
forty-two eunhoats and rorpedo-boats.
The Siberian fleet up to a few months
ago consisted of one second-class crnis-
er, two torpedo cruisers. four gunhoats,
seven tirstclass and eight seconG-class
torpedo-hoats, and two armored steam
ers. Tie CaSnian feet cnfs no finn, !,