Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-19
TO INCnAAsE THEIR NAyIEs.
steps Being Taken by the Principal
Maritime Nations.
(Washlngton starr

Naval Progress, q periodical issued
gives an interesting account Of the
steps being taken by the principal
maritime nations to increase their naval
forces. according to the publication re-
ferred to- Great Britain is building or is
about to bund los ships, upon which she
will expend $O7 900 600, and will increase
her personnel by $500 officers and men
ths year. Russa's program Of naval eX-
pansion calls for an expenditure OF S5lS.
100000. France is adding to her fleet at
an expense Of $l443000O0. Germany has a
program looking TO the expenditure OF
52lOUDO,OOO, and Japan's program requires
the expenditure of 1872 $4,000.
Considering her resources, Japan is
making a more rapid increase in ships
and men than any other power. France
is constructing more torpedo boats than
any of the continental governments
while Great Britain continues to outstrip
the world in the number power and cost
of vessels Of all types and classes. The
total strength OF the English navy is
shown to be 10000 officers and men.
British improvements I'm dock yards al
home and abroad have been marked by
great energy. England is now building
three immense docks at Gibralta, and
is making extensive improvements at
her naval stations at Hong Kong, Malta
and Bermuda. Russias plans includes
the opening of q new naval base on the
coast of Lapland, at a point between the
White sea and tho Norwegian coast, and
connected by rail with st. Petersburg.
The l0S new ships designed for the Brit
ish navy are of all classes, fourteen being
hattie Cbinc pivEf Frct-oigGc Cr1icarc
nine second-class cruisers, ifty-two tor
pedo-boat destroyers and the remainder
small cruisers and gunboats. The three
large battle ships TO be laid down this
year win be of the Majestic type. The
four arnored cruisers will be among the
most powerful vessels Of this type in the
world Not less than twenty-one knots
an hour will be the speed requirement.
The other cruisers will be about the same
type as the Detroit and the gunboats a
little larger than the Bancroft
Frances building program extends over
a period of eight years. and will aggre-
gate in 1905 about $lA,90OOOO, making an
annual expenditure for increasing the
strength of the fleet OF $lS,0O0.0O0. She has
now under construction twelve battle
ships and nine armored cruisers, besides
a great number of torpedo boat destroy
ers and smaller ships.
Germany's naval program provides for
the building, exclusive of torpedo boats,
gunboats and vessels for special purposes,
of seventeen ships OF the line. eight ar
mored coast defense vessels, twelve large
cruisers and twenty-siX small cruisers, be
sides nine large ships in reserve.
Russia has recently completed 1900
ton battle ship. and has another sister
ship building. Besides, she has num-
Der OF small cruisers, twelve torpedo
boat destroyers and several torpedo
boats building.
The growth Of Japap's naval strength
is remarkable both as TO the number and
the strength OF vessels being added TO
her force. In 1896 she bought out pro-
gram, TO be completed in ten years, in
volving an expenditure of $4,000 900. and
intended TO give her four battle ships,
four armored cruisers, three second-class
and two third-class protected cruisers,
eighty-nine torpedo boats and number
of smaller vessels, all in addition TO her
present available navy.