The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-04-12
COMPARISON Of NAV|ES
WAR VESSELS OF SPAIN AND THE
UNITED STATES.
America Leads Both in Number and
Class, and is More Strictly Modern
in Construction.

With war between the United
States and Spain so imminent, an en-
act comparison of the naval forces of
the two countries is of the greatest
interest. From the Naval Annual, by
r. H. Brassey, an English publication
of the highest authority, a c&py of
which bringing the subject down to
the first of the present year, has just
been received, the following facts and
figures are taken:
OF armored ships of all kinds the
United States has thirty-three and
Spain thirteen: of cruising ships Spain
has thrty-nine and the United States
thirty-four; of torpedo boat fotilas,
including both torpedo boats and de-
stroyers. Spain had at the beginning
of the year two destroyers and four
building, fourteen torpedo boats of
the first class and six building. three
OF the second class. and four Nedette
boats; the United States. two de-
stroyers building, eight first class tor
pedo boats, and ten building, four We
dette boats and two submarine boats
building. ...........
The comparison from these figures
must be modified by consideration
of the character. and date Of build
ing. particularly of the armored and
cruiser classes. Of Spain's thirteen
armored vessels. ten have been built
since 1887 and may therefore he call
ed strictly modern vessels. The 9TH
erS were built in 1868, 1865 and 1874,
OF the United States thirty-three ar
mored ships, fifteen have been built
since 1887. and are strictly modern.
| Three were built in 1883, one in 1884.
one in 1876, and the others between
1863 and 1865. OF Spain's thirty-nine
cruising ships, twenty-five have been
built since 1887, several were built in
1885 and 1886. and the others earlier.
OF the United States cruising ships.
twenty-five have been built since 1887,
and as the earliest of them. the Allan
ia and Boston, were built in 1884 and
are of steel, they may all be consider
ed as strictly modern war vessels of
! their class.
Of armored cruisers, barbette or
| turret, strictly first class and modern
| as to armor. armament, speed and
coal capacity, Spain has the Almirau
te OQuendo, Cardenal Cisneros. Cata-
luna, Cristobal Colon, Emperadc
Charles V, Infanta Maria Teresa. Pc.
layo, Pedro d'Aragon, Princess de
J Asturias and NiZcaya, all of from
6.S40 to 1900 tons, most of them about
1000 tons, all except the Pelaya, rated
AT a speed of twenty knots, with coal
capacity of 1000 to 200 tons, carrying
| from $50 to 600 men, and with an in
dicated horse power of from 10000 tc
! $500. The armament consists as tC
most of them, of two L inch. and fer
80 inch quick firing guns, besides
smaller guns. In the same class
though not as a rule rated as high in
speed. the United States has the Ala
bama. Brooklyn. Illinois, Indiana
iowa. Kearsarge. Kentucky. Massa
chusetts. New York. Oregon. Texas
and Wisconsin. most of which are o.
larger displacement that the Spanisl
vessels and carry heavier guns,
OF the cruiser class of modern YES
sells. of which the Philadelphia ant
Baltimore may be taken as types
Spain has the Alfonso MI and the Al
fonso NIIT. Lepanto. Reina Christina
and Reina Mercedes, of from 5000 tC
5000 tons displacement. 1000 to H.,
600 indicated horse power, II to y
knots speed. and carrying usually "a
lHtlG HtdNltSl guns, SlN o'- li'l VI
four rs inch guns.
In this class of vessels the United
States has the Atlanta, Baltimore
Boston. Charleston. Chicago. Cincin
natl, Columbia, Minneapolis. Newark
Olympia, Philadelphia, Raleigh anC
San Francisco. none of them less thar
3,1S3 tons, and running up, as in thu
case of the Columbia, to 1,475 tons
and carrying in most cases incl
guns.
OF smaller cruisers, mostly of abou
1,130 tons, speed of about II knots
and armament appropriate, Spain ha
nine. The United States has thirteel
and nearly all larger, most of then
of 1,750 and 1000 tons displacement
, OF the Monitor type of vessel 70
: coast defense the United States fa
exceeds Spain, but the latter has NOR
torpedo gun boats.
COURT NOTES.