Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-28

The main paval strength Of the two
powers IS as fellows:
japan. Russia
First-class battleships. ..........5
Second class battleshlps.. $40 10
Third-class battleships.
First-class cruisers. .............4
Second-class cruisers. ...........9
Thira-cla cruisers. ............3
The nations are about equally
matched when hattleship is pitsed
against battleship of the first class,
says the Boston Globe. Those of the
second class, belonging to the Musco-
,ites, which look so formidable on
paper, are 10 or 10 years old. The
cruisers of modern build, high speed,
good armor and latest armament.
Remember, that while Russia out
classes japan in the naval annual, yet,
in case OF actual war, the former would
be compelled to retain many vessels in
the Black Sea, and at other places dis.
tant from the roint of conflict. The
latter could place in the fighting line
every ship in commission.
Prof. James Murdoch, British
scholar, who has lived for many years
in the -Flowery Kingdom, wrote as fol-
lows in the May issue of the North
American Revisw.
"In the war Of lS94-95 Japan had
only one small hattleship, then II years
of age veiitable lame duck in COM
parison with the four new frst-class
battleships, which car steam IL or 10
knots. III.
''In 1867 Japan possessed none of
the four first-class cruisers (of some
8, 800 tons) now entered in the official
| list. The brunt of the strife at the
battle of the Yau fell upon six OF tho
nine second class cruisers now in the
navy, three new ones-the Iakasago,
the Kasagi and Chitose-having been
built since then. In addition to that,
the torpedo flotilla has been greatly
augmented, while of the score Of
torpedo destroyers included in the ship
building programme liz built or build
ing in England, four in France and
four in Germany, more than half are
already in Japanese waters, and the
others will soon arrive. N
From this it will appear that the
naval strength of the country in 1898
was only fraction of what IL will be
early this summer. shortly after the
time of the projected grand naval
maneuyres. The addition of the cap
tured Chinese battleship Chinyen, Of
1000 tons, does not count for very
much, but the four new tirst-olass bat
tleships (probably the Asahi will be
here by midsummer), of q gross tonnage
OF close on So, 000 and a gross compile
ment OF 2.6S1 men, add iinmeasurably
to the sea power of Japan. Two Of
these, Full az 50) and Yashima
III, 14O) are almost exact reproductions
of the British Royal Sovereign, while
the Shikishima and the Asahi. of abou,
5000 tons each, are improved Ma
jestics.
-Four of the six new sfirst-clas:
cruisers included in the shipbuildinp
programme have either already arrived
or will arrive in the summer. And in
every respect these constitute formid
able increase to Japan's naval strength
for it is more than probable that they
! themselves give good account of tn,
! whole fleet possessed by Japan at thu
time of the late war, IL sent against it
!, Ranging from 9, 400 to 9,S75 tons, the,
are a trIiie larger than the Unitet
States Brooklyn (9.215 tons), and full,
as powerful fighting machines.
= Even as regards second-clas
9 cruisers, the addition of three new
vessels to the six that fought at thu
, Yalu is no inconsidsrable item. OF Jhes
the Takasago (4,160 tons), Luilt a
Elswiol, has speed of "a knots, an,
!. an armament Of two eight-inoh, tel
= 4.7-inch, twelve IL. FOUNDERS, six 2l5
= = FOUNDER quick -frers and five torped
tubes. The two American built vessel
- the Kasagi at Philadelphia and th
= Chitose at San Francisco--are slightly
! larger, but slightly slower, the tonnag
of the former being 4,978, and of tn
y latter 4,836, with a speed of nearly 2
. knots. ~
!, This summer the Japanese nav
will have tonnage OF something be
> tween 100000 and 100000 tons, a
j. against the Russian of 5000 to 80, 00t
: unless, as will doubtless be the cast
's more Russian ships be sent to the East.
The Pacific fleet of the Gear, face I
. face with the fleet of the Mikado,
y weak. But Russia has in hand 81
!. first-class battleships and six first-clas
:. cruisers, rot included in the tahl
p above, some of which could probabl
"a be completed rapidly, and be utilize
IL in case OF war. Then her weakness Q
10 the eastern station would disappear.
Russia has come out of her shell an
u entered upon a broad career of indus
q try, mechanical and agricultural. ST
10 is colonizing Siberia. She has almo
=. finished building gigantic railroa
70 connecting st. Petersburg with Po
ID Arthur, $3.50 miles away, a seapo
open all the year round. She is owe
o. running the Chinese province Of Maj
10 churia. She is looking for what 81
~ can get. Outside of any desire for to-
" ritorial acquisition beyond the Ian
% already secured, Russia looks viii
~ jealous eyes upon the establishment
~ the japanese in power in Korea, cloI
to the Muscovite line of communicable
y between Port Arthur and VladiVostocl
o. the future termini of the great tran
US continental railroad system.
~ japan was hermit among nation
III three decades ago. Sha too, has bur
her bonds, like butterfly at brit
~ and gone into trade. Her islands a
too small to support her ever-inoreasir
pc population. Her people must spres
ne out, and Korea offers the opportunit
y. for the expansion. Russia agreed tv
~ years ago not to impede the develo
ia ment of the commercial and industri
ne relations between Japan and Korea. Il
20 day there are evidences that subjec
'r- of the Gear are seeking concessions al
CO otherwise meddling with Korean affair
're That IS the principal cause Of suspici'
oa and trouble.