The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-17
THE ASIATIC FLEETS.
Strength of Europe2s Squadrons il
China Waters.

Washington. May lin view of the re-
ports that German, French and British
ships are centering at the Philippine ISL
ands, much interest has been excited in
navy circles to the strength of the sew
eral fleets of those powers. There is lit
tie or no apprehension in official quarters
here that the gathering of foreign war
ships is meant as a menace to American
interests in the Philippines. At the same
time the strength of the foreign forces in
Asiatic waters is an interesting theme of
conjecture. From reliable sources the
status of the Asiatic squadron is as fol-
lows:
Germany's fleet in Asiatic waters con-
sists of eight first class modern vessels.
Admiral Hoffman is the commander-in-
chief, with the battleship Kaiser as his
flagship. Second in command is Vice Ad-
mira1 Prince Henry, a brother of the EN-
Deutschland. The eight ships of the Ger
man squadron are as follows: on .a.
speed. 14-5 knots; armament, eight 1922
inch guns, seven 5.9-inch guns, nine 3-4-ineh
IattleshIB Kaiser 75s1 tS9 gn speed 1as
aWa1 aam EMS eght Inch eIn guns
Cruiser Irene, 400 tons; speed, - knots;
armament, four 5;9-inch guns. eight Al
Cruiser Princess Wilhelm, 400 tons;
speed Is kn9tg I man M f9q rc 5sin Ins
Cruiser Gefion, 4,207 tons; speed. 20 knots;
armament, eight 5.9-inch guns. ten 4.1-tnch
GTgiseT AEeona 5s tGms gDeedt o Il
44 ni guns, SIX Is Inch fiY guns. guns Ao
Cruiser COrmoran, 1,640 tons; speed, 16
Knots; armament I'm eig ghe eanGn guns Hh,,s
The British squadron in Asiatic waters
is greater in guns and tonnage than that
of Germany, France and Russia combined.
ships. ranging from the monster Battle
ship Victorious, of 1900 tons, to the swift
British squadron is under Admiral Sir E.
H. Seymour Qmmander-in,ch chief Rear
with his sg On Is the eT@ser
Grafton. The squadron is made up of the
Battleship Victorious. IA, 900 tons; speed,
17.5 knots; armament, four 12-inch guns,
twelve 6-inch guns and twenty smaller
BattIeships Centurion and Barf1eur, each
1880 tons; speed, 18.5 knots; armament,
smaller quick-fring guns.
Three armored cruisers: Immortalite,
Narcissus and Undaunted, each $500 tons;
speed, Is knots; armament, two 92-inch
Unarmored cruiser Powerful, IA, 200 tons;
guns; twelve 6-inch guns and thirty small
| Ter quick-fire guns.
| Unarmored cruisers Grafton and Edgar,
each $50 tons; speed, Y knots; arma-
ment two 92-inch guns, ten 6-inch guns
Unarmored cruisers Iphigenia, Rain
| bow and Pique. each $500 tons: speed, 10
| inch guns; eight S-pounders and one g.
FOUNDER.
Unarmored cruiser Archer. ITO tons;
guns and eight 3-pounders.
| Four sloops, Alacrity, Algerian, Phoenix
and Daphne ,17OO tons each; speed, IA to
| II knots; armament, ten 6-pounders; six
| 4-pounders, four 3-pounders and eight 8
| inch guns.
| Four destroyers. Handy, Hart. Fame and
| Whiting, 260 tons each; q to 80 knots speed
! EACH armament, one 12-pounder' five g.
FOUNDERS. Also the gunboats Linneet.
| Peacock, Ringdove. Pigmy, Plover, Swift,
| Rather, Redpole, Esk and Firebrand.
| The Russian fleet consists of twenty-five
| ships, with Admiral Reunof as command
| following:
| Three battleshfps, the Naverin 9,476
| tons; the Sissoi Veliky. $3.50 tons, and the
! Pinch guns and other smaller guns.
| Six armOred cruisers, viz: Ruric, 1O,923
| tons; Russia, 12,130 tons; Pamyat Azova.
| 5000 tons; Dfmitri DOnskoi, $500 tons; Ad-
| miral Nachimoff T. 700 tons; Vladimir, Mon
| amache, 500 tons.
| Cruiser Admiral Kerniloff. 5000 tons.
| Shops KreySser, 1,500 tons, and Zalacia,
| 1900 tons.
| Gremisstchy, 800 tons each; also gun
| boats Korists, Maudschur, Sivouthch, Vsad-
| mix and Haidamek and Volunteer; cruis-
| ers. Saratoff, Tamboff and one other
| The French fleet is made up of eleven
| ships. with Rear Admiral Gigault de la
| Bedolliere commander-in-chief, with
| his flag on the 'Entrescastau,. The fleet
| is made up of the following vessels:
| Cruiser Bayard, $500 tons; speed, IA
| knots; cruiser Bruix, /. 700 tons. speed IS
| knots; cruiser Vauban, $500 tons, speed IA
| knots; cruiser D'EntreScasteau, S.100 tons,
| speed 10 knots; cruiser Pascal, 1900 tons,
| speed 20 knots; cruiser Descarttes, $500
| tons, speed 81 knots; cruiser Duguay Tru-
| oin 800 tons, speed Is knots; also the
| gunboats Surprise and Comet.