Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-03
BELC|UM'S GREAT AND
STRANGE NAVAL PROJECT.

The first indication that the nations
of the world may possibly decide to make
the last year of the century a year of
peace comes from Belgium, where one OF
the most I'VE Of projects is now under
way. Instead of spending vast sums of
money in re~cOnstructing it's war fleets.
the nation has determined to use the ap-
preparation in constructing and hitting
out a peace navy, thed duty Of which shall
be to Introduce the Belgian nation, it's
flag and it's products to every port OF
Importance in the world.
In other words, instead OF battleshlps,
cruisers, %gunboats and other destructive
craft the projected Belgian fleet Is to
consist of state ships fitted with SAM
pies of Belgian products, and these YES
sells are to be kept plying FROM port to
port in African, AsiatIc, American n
Australian waters. BY this means 1t will
be possible for the nation to come thor-
oughly in touch with the world. New
commercial methods will be suggested,
new markets will be opened, and, it is
quite possible, a new era of prosperity
may dawn for the nation.
For some time past the nava ques-
ton has been an important one in Bel
GUM. According to the authorities. a
very large sum of money must be spent
If the fleet was to be put upon a par
with those of other nations. To do this
meant an increase in taxation chat would
prove a great hardship to the people Of
the country, many of whom already felt
the pangs of the Tightening times.
The matter, when brought before the
ministry, was discussed at length, and
was finally settled by the adoption Of
the scheme proposed by the king. In
stead of vessels of war they would build
vessels OF peace. Instead of visiting
1u%r &c. - ~<;~o ton e ~ot
for actual destruction, they would inaug-
urate an Industrial navy, a fleet that
would be nothing more or less than a
floating commercial museum under pat
ronage of the government.
A POPULAR PROJECT.
The novelty of such a scheme imne-
diately appealed to the people, n the
effect has been far better than even the
king himself could have assumed that
it would be. The feeling Of disquietude
that has distinguished the past two years
of his reign has been almost entirely set
tied, and every one is working with every
one else to make the new project a sue
cess.
Already two ships are practically ready
to be put in commission and others are
to be constructed at once, so that by
the time of the big Belgian exposition at
Liege, in 1903, the nation and it's prod
ucts will have become thoroughly intro
duced to the world. AS the result those
who have been lamenting the fact that
the country had no naval force to official
ly display the flag in distant ports are
satisfied that the best thing has been
done, and it is unlikely that anything
more will be said about the creation Of
an armed fleet.
According to the present intentions.
the new industrial navy will consist Of
about seven or eight ships that shall
be state property. They will be manned
by sailors wearing the Belgian uniform
and will carry some marines. The ships
will be protected by a few guns, but they
will be so constructed that in case Of
actual wal they could be easily used as
an armed fleet.
In this way there will be no fleet to
keep in idleness during the periods Of
peace. and nothing will have been done
that can possibly be regarded as incon-
TONS.
There are few countries Of Europe Of
which less is known than of Belgium.
Occasionally the name of the king, Or
some slight reference to the country.
appears in the news reports of the day.
but there are comparatively few persons
who know much more about the nation
except in a general way. The Belgians
realize this, and they regret that such
conditions ave existed so long.
WELL-KNOWN LAND.
They are determined, however. that
this shall be changed in the future, and
they believe that within the next two
years they will be able to make their
land the best known country in Europe.
The contract is a big one, but they are
setting out energetically to fill it.
The first step that was taken was
the establishment of a line OF steamers
between Antwerp and the Congo Free
State, and the formation of several COM
panies to develop the m n in
dustries of several sections of Africa.
Then came the proposed commercial mis-
sion to China and the announcement of
a great international exposition to be
held at Liege.
According to every indication, there is
no reason why Belgium should not profit
greatly by such a scheme. Today she Is
practically unknown commercially, ex-
cept in certain ports and cities of Eu-
rope. BY the time her ships have voy-
aged once or twice around the globe, her
name will be a familiar one in commercial
circles, for she has many things to show
things that will max her ships inter-
esting and attractive.
One of the greatest sources Of wealth