Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-29
THE NEW NAvIEs.

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From the Chicago Record.
In reply to an inquiry from Centralia,
Wis, 1 would say that the battle ship
Iowa cost in round numbers 81, 500, 600. She
is not the largest battle ship in the world,
but is ranked as the most powerful fight
ing machine now afioat. Considering her
tonnage. speed, armor and guns, she ought
to be able to whip any vessel in any navy
at the present time There are other ships
with bigger guns and greater tonnage, but
make her speed.
The biggest battle ship in the world is the
Lepanto of the Italian navy-15, 400 tons
and cost $4,000, 600. The Iowa is II, 40 tons.
The Illinois. which is now under construc
ton. will be a little larger-11 ,525 tons, and
will cost about the same money.
The United States now ranks fifth among
the naval powers Of the earth, and Is a tie
with Germany. England Is first, France
second, Russia third and Italy fourth. The
German navy Is better supplied with tor
pedo boats than that of the United States,
but we are a little ahead on battle ships
and cruisers. Taking one consideration
with another. however, there is very little
difference. When the Kentucky, Kear-
sarge, Illinois and the other vessels now
many, but the Germans, however, have
magnificent scheme for the development of
their navy, and the recent episodes in
China were planned for the purpose Of
stimulating the interest of their parliament
and the people. If the emperor's program
Is carried out Germany will spend $2OO,
600 in naval construction during the next
nine or ten years, an average of about $780,
100000 a year for battle ships, cruisers,
coast-defense monitors and other fighting
materials, and will run way ahead of us
and take the second place. In 1906 the
German navy will be increased to seven
teen battle ships of the first class, eight
coast-defense vessels, nine first-class cruis-
ers and twenty-siX second-class cruisers.
The battle ships will be the most formid-
able In the world. and are to cost $5OOO,0O
each, the cruisers 100000 each and the
small cruisers $1,OOO,00O each. The appro-
priation by the German parliament for the
year amounts to $9OOO,OOO, and will be
spent in the construction of three first-class
battle ships, one first-claSs armored cruiser,
five second-class protected cruisers, two
gunboats. eight torpedo boats and one tor
pedo boat destroyer.
During the present year Russia will spend
S,5OOOOO for her naval establishment She
has now under construction nine battle
ships, two cOast-defense vessels, two ar
mored cruisers, four protected cruisers
four gunboats and forty torpedo boats.
Great Britain, however, as usual, is out
doing all the nations in naval construction,
and during the present year will spend
SIG 100000. She has now under con-
struction III vessels, and several Of them
will be completed before next January
viz, fifteen battle ships, twelve first-class
cruisers, nine second-class cruisers, ten
third-class cruisers, six twin-screw gun
boats, fifty-six torpedo boat destroyers
eight light draft gunbOats and one royal
yacht. Great Britain has today in this
catalogue of ships under construction a
fleet as fine as that of the United States,
Italy, Germany or any other nation, ex-
nnYaf Erop md Dues
We have now fifty-four fighting vessels
in good condition, and twenty-five more in
course of construction, including five bat
tie ships. At the close of the century we
shall have nine of the best fighting ships
in the world. There Is nothing better in
the British or the Russian navy at present,
although the other nations, as stated, have
plans for an increase in their naval es-
Establishments that will greatly surpass
ours.
The Japanese now rank seventh for naval
strength among the nations of the earth,
and when the vessels Japan now has under
construction are completed she will go up
to the fourth place, above Italy and the
United States She Is devoting nearly all
the indemnity paid her by China for the
late war to the improvement of her naval
and military establishments. She has now
under construction in England three battle
ships Of 1880 tons displacement, equal to
the largest and most powerful In the world;
one battle ship of 10000 tons, four armored
cruisers Of $500 tons 1.-TWO in England, one
in Germany and one in France), and four
protected cruisers, like that launched late
ly, of 4,7GO tons Uwo in the United States
and two at Armstrong; yard in England);
one protected cruiser of $500 tons and one
Of 800 tons are being built at the govern
ment yard at Yokosuka, Japan; thirteen
torpedo boats of 90 tons each in France
and England, and nine torpedo boat de-
stroyers of 800 tons each In Germany and
England.
The United States battle ship Alabama
is being built in the slip adjoining that
from which the Kasagi was launched late
ly. and win be ready for launching some
time in the coming summer. 1t is curious
coincidence that the Alabama is No. 200
upon the Cramps books, which is the num-
Der that the famous privateer Alabama
bore upon the records of the confederate
navy.