New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-14
RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC CANAL.
IT WILL CONNECT THE BALTIC AND BLACK
srAs-,JAPANs BIG NAVAL PERSONNEL.

arAs-.JAPAN.S BIG NAVAL PERSONNEL.
Washington June D (SpeciaD.-in many coun
the expenditures for naval work or all xmas ID
far greater to-day than ever DeIore NOT 10 '"'
effort shown In one direction. but on the con-
trary aims at an increase in ships ordnance
rovai stations at home. and naval bases OF supply
and repair abroad even to the construction OK ex-
tensiye engineering works in the shape OF canals
for the purpose Of rapid concentration Oh tho nes~
The most extensive work in this direction Is that
to be conducted In Russia FOR cohnec'i"s '"'
waters of the Baltic and Black seas
The Office of Naval Intelligence has recently TO
coived a. detailed description Of this proposed OPP
Grafton which contempates the building OF canal
having a length Of over one thousand miles, Ano
primary object is for strategic purposes Out at 'ho
same time it will be OF great commercial impor
lance Beginnir at Riga. the canal 1oio"s the
course ~ the River Duna as far as Dunaburg, and
from there an excavation Is to carry 1t from Lepe'
to the Beresna, along this water-couTse " '"e
Dneiper and thence down this river 10 inc oiacA
Sea. over @ total length Of 1850 miles. but oy using
the rivers the artificial construction VIII only ca
tend some 10 miles
Ar ths ends OF th, canal are the cities OF Riga
on tho north and Cherson on the south. ana tho
latter 10 to become a great naval arsenal Ao'.e
operations along the route are 10 oesih TINS 'o'',
and under the present plan It Is expected the cana
will be completed and opened to tramc IN 'ou'
wears The cost Of the entire construction is est-
n
all tho way sufficient to take the largest oat'e-
shins and the construction will be OF such CHAR
acter that a speed Of six knots can be maintained
nv which the entire route may be traversed In q
iift,e less than one week The naval omclais OF
Russia expect that this time may be mucn I'M
proved as no doubt that part OF the co naI ~nicn
nigh speed being made. Along It's entire length the
canal will be lighted by electric lamps so as 70
hermit travel by day or by night
Strategically this canal will be OF the greatest I'M
portance to Russia. II will enable the compineo
Black Sea feet which now has no outlet, 70 90
uni ed with that OF the Baltic without passing for-
eIgn territory. Russia has ten armored and nine
time of need could reinforce the SHIPS IN the batc
or in less than days her entire meet couid %
concentrated in either and this without pass
ing through waters that In time OF war might be
occupied by ships of the enemy. TO enter the
Mediterranean from the Black Sea. however, Rus-
STA must first pass through Turkish waters, either
by permission or by force ,..,
statement OF the enormous growth OF the Japanese
personnel In the last five years Properly 70 omcer
the ships Of her big naval programme, which VIII
be completed in four years. Japan mas found II
necessary 10 Quadruple her number OF officers
especially In the line branches OF the service Five
years ago her total number OF officers was 80 now
It is l. 725. She has more admiras OF the fleet ad:
mrals vice-admirals and rear-admlrals combined
than the American Navy has OF captains Besides
these gh-ranking officers, her naval list contains
POS captains 304 commanders and l,l5o lieutenants
These figures only include the line or executive
branch the other force having been likewise In
creased. Japan mas not been content with the crea
process but It seems to advance by leaps and
bounds