The evening times., 1900-02-10
NAVIES OF THE WORLD
A Years Progress as Viewed by
the Intelligence Bureau.
The Great Powers Striving for Su-
premacy on the Sea-Chief Reliance
Placed spop BattIeships by the
Nations of Europe-The Utility of
the Torpedo Boat Yet Undecided.

The Navy Department has just issued a
30O-page volume on the naval progress OF
/ the world during the year 1899. II was
/ compiled by Commander Richardson
Glover late Chief of the Naval Inteili-
/ gence Bureau. who has been ordered to
England as naval attache of the United
/ States Embassy. 1t contains dozen pa
pers on naval progress, ordnance. armor.
torpedo boats target practice on ship
board wireless telegraphy, and other sub
iects connected with the navies of the
world In his article on the improvements
of foreign navies as the result of the
Spanish-American war Lieutenant Com
among other things:
In considering the principal foreign
navies with view of noting recent ten
denotes of development, the most striking
feature which presents itself is the
marked effort now making by the impor-
tant maritime powers to increse their ma
val strength Never before, except. per
haps. spasmodically during a naval war,
has such endeayor been more vigorous or
mare general. hneLneT TBcOBuitlUh VI
this be accorded willingly or unwillingly.
il must be reckoned with. The Importance
of sea power is clearly perceived, and ma
val shipbuilding programmes grow more
extensive and more elaborate
Faith i'm BattIeships.
Foreign powers evidently place the
greatest reliance on battleships. In
France and Italy protected cruisers are
>till in great favor, but battleships are
really depended upon to win naval battles.
Increased speed is also one of the princi-
pal features of battleships, and everything
else being equal the fleet with the fastest
ships will win. Torpedo boats are stlll
highly regarded by foreign powers. but
just what they can do has not yet been
demonstrated. In armament the tendency
is To smaller calibre rapid-firing guns
with smokeless powder. All officers agree
thar armor must be widely diffused and
cannot be restricted to the water line and
gun positions.
Search lights rapid-fire guns of the
secondary battery. flotllas Of picket boats
when at anchor. and numerous Ranking
torpedo boat destroyers and cruisers when
under way form the chief defence of bat
Ileships against torpedoes.
Military masts are considered impor-
tant for battieships. The tendency is TO
shorten them. and their development is
in the direction OF armored towers with
circular sJairways. enabling men to go
aloft to he fighting tops and to have am
munition supplied TO them therein under
protection There is communication from
the tops TO the coming towers TO facill-
tate reporting ranges and signals For
cruisers the present tendency seems TO be
10 use pole masts.
In the personnel OF the fleets the
greatest attention is being paid target
practice aud rapid cOaling. Training OF
fleets in rapid mobilization is also receiv-
ing much attention.
The Plans of Germany.
Lieut.. sumner f. ". Kittelle. United
states Navy. says of Germany's plans for
big battle fleet:
There is a strong desire on the part of
progressive Germans to build up power
full navy 10 guard and 10 further the in
terests of German commerce and OF Ger
man colonization abroad. Ii is proposed.
if Inc consent CT the Rechstag can Re oh
tanned 10 add to the navy. over and above
the present building programme. which
ends in Ia0i - h8ttIeships 10 large cruls-
ois aud 30 small cruisers. the construc-
tinE 10 extend over a period of seventeen
wears and TO cost / 1O0 eco 600 marks. II
is believed that during this period the
population aud revenue Of Germany viii
greatly increase and that the burden as
sumed in carrying out this enormous naval
increase viii not be too heavy To bear.
The plan includes a corresponding increase
in The capacities OF the navy yards and
gradual increase in the personnel 10 man
the ships a. they are completed
tie then gives d translation OF pam
phlei published in Berlin giving the plans
for building the feet, showing how the
revenues are to be raised for the next
quarter OF a century. and comparing Ger
many's feet with other countries.
Lieu. G.. g Marsh. United States Navy,
summarizes The construction of the navieS
abroad during the past year as follows;
"EnEland-ln the construction or the
year abroad England has gone in for YES
Sels of large size both battleships and
cruisers. The tWenty-seven latest English
hattleships are practically alike so far as
constituting tactical units Of a homo |
gepCous fleet
''Frauce-Frsnce has laid down prin- |
ipally cruisers intended for commerce de- |
stroyers and large number of submarine |
vessels. though no craft of the type has /
been carried through trials sufficient TO |
its success.
The Russian Ice Breaker.
Russia Construction is divided in Rus
-ia between battleships and large cruisers.