Evening star., 1900-10-01
RISE OF SEA- POWER
Naval Programs ofIthe Different
Nations.
PROBLEM OF GROWING aIHPORTANCE
Spain Proposes to Benefit From
Recent E1pe9}5ieace.
VAST EXPENDITURE IN VIEW

VAST EXPENDITURE IN VIEW
he~bureau OF naval intelligence has is
sued its annual volume of 'Notes on the
Years Naval Progress" One Of the most
important chapters from political stand
point Is that devoted to the increase in
naval strength Of the various powers. as
indicated by the naval budgets. This tends
to show that the naval problem with all of
the great powers Is one Of constantly in
creasing Importance, both from the stand
point of an effective fighting force and be-
cause of the rapidly increasing expense of
it's maintenance The naval establishments
of all the European powers are rapidly out
stripping the several standing armies. This,
it is pointed out, is due to the increasing
Importance Of colonial interests and the at
tendant struggle for commercial suprem-
acy in Australia, Africa, China and the
far east These gigantic problems in which
the commercial life of the several powers
is involved, overshadOwing the old and
Iong-standing questions in European poll
tics such as the retention of Alsace-Loraine.
the re-establishment of Poland and the
ever-recurring difficulties of the Balkan
states.
EngIand's Naval Strength.
England has long accepted the principle
that her naval strength must be equal in
numbers and superior in power to that of
the two strongest navies Of the world, and
the British program Of new naval construc-
tion is based on this principle. The English
naval estimates for this year amount to a
total Of 2S553, ,222 pounds sterling. This Is
an Increase of more than 1O,OOO. 900 pounds
sterling over the same appropriation Tor
the year 1S94-1S95- The past year has
shown an increase of nineteen vessels COM
pleted, with an aggregate of 1222.s22 tons
This years increase of 4,24O men in the ma
val establishment brings the total strength
up to 114,SS0 officers and men, and sets the
pace for European naval advance which
all of the other nations are striving to
equal excel.
Frances Program.
France began in 1896 a program for the
construction of DO new vessels of all
sorts. of which 70 have been completed at
a cost of 337. 100000 francs. This old pro-
gram has been practically abandoned in
favor of a new scheme for the creation of
a homogeneous French fleet. which will in
clude, after its execution III 1907, a total
force of 406 vessels of all Glasses. including
80 submarine boats and 263 torpedo boats.
The total cost of the eWcconStructlon VIII
amount to 712.20S 600 francs. and In addi-
ton to this, 1t is proposed to spend about
40. 600 francs on the improvement of
the various arsenals and naval stations.
Building Up Germany. Navy.
Germany is similarly engaged in building
up her navy, and her program is to be con-
cluded In 1915 This contemp1ates force
of 80 battle ships, 20 frst-class cruisers 40
smaller cruisers. and 16. divisions Of tor
pedo boats. This increase in Vessels neces-
states a corresponding increase In person.
mel, which Will amount To total increase
at the end of twenty years Of 30. .551 Off
GERS and men. .l ~ = ---.
The Italian Bpde<t. >.
! The total naval budget stlhe ,comng year
In Italy amounts ted122i I7a,611s Lire. Italy
now has ON her list of vessels approaching
completion 5 first-class battle ships,
armored cruisers, 3 second-class cruisers.
ID torpedo boat destroyers, and frst7class
torpedo boats.
japan to Form n New Program.
The naval program of Japan. inaugurated
I'm 1885, provided for the building of Oh
vessels by 1901, and 63 more by 1906, max
ing a total of lit warships. divided as fol-
lows: Four battle ships, first-class
armored cruisers. second-class, third
class; Is torpedo cruisers and 80 torpedo
beats. All of these vessels are comple. ed
or in course of construction, and Japan
will probably soon decide upon new pro-
gram. The budget for 1900 amounts TO
46 946 1913 yen. Some Of the officers or the
Japanese navy appear to be or the opinion
that If the treasury cannot afford TO devote
more money than at present allotted for
building warships, it would be better TO
build destroyers, on the. ground that the
most powerful battle ship cannot escape
surrounded by ten destroyers. During the
late Japanese maneuvers, 1t is claimed,
valuable experiments were made which in
dicated the great offensive efficiency OF
vessels of the destroyer class.
Russia Preparing New Program.
Early in 1898 Russia followed the example
Of the European powers and formulated
program of new construction. The sum OF
90 900 900 roubles was set apart for the
completion in six years ready for sea OF ten
armored cruisers, ten second-class cruisers
and twenty destroyers This program was
in addition to the annual program outlined
by the naval estimate To complete these
ships in the given time it was necessary
to place contracts for several of them
abroad, but at the same time care was
taken to reserve enough of the money to
keep the shipyards at home fully occupied
and to develop the government factories for
the production of guns and armor. Despite
the fact that the progress made with exist
ing programs has not been as rapid as was
expected and that her naval budget has in
creased from $4,000, 600 in 1897 to $4,000
600 in 1900. 1t is currently reported as in
preparation and will shortly be announced
new and extensive program for the in
crease of her fleet.
Spain Heeds Her Lesson.
Although the "Notes on Naval Progress,
issued by the Navay Department. consider
ately abstains from cruel comment on the
state of the Spanish navy. 1t is evident from
the two papers included in the volume. one
an address of Francisco Silvela, minister
of marine to the throne, and a royal decree
which he recommended in May last, issued
by the queen, that Spain has aheeded the
lesson of the Spanish-AmeriGan war. The
minister Of marine at least Is falive to the
situation. He looks the situation sQuarely
in the face and is resolved to Ifrarbor no more
illusions concerning her p3d npaper' navy.
The memorial of the minisferi0f marine in
sists that the Spanish navy should conform
to the new conditions inDsse4y by the loss
of the Spanish colonial passeBaons and be
capable of assisting effeG4uallE in the de-
fense of Spanish territorys4 itThe present
Spanish navy, he declareso does not answer
any of the Observation-Disclosures
that the first step for attaining the desired
result would be to discardaiI uhe naval ma
terial which is worthiessnandf which need
lessly absorbs budget funds. and which
show h, w of IS strength, which You'd be s a source e
of terrible disillusion when stH6 time comes
fr1rr ttx,cv 20 fh<t tnrk