The evening times., 1901-05-20

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Reports have been received here con
Cgrning the programmes of naval increase
for this year by all the leading Powers
in which the enormous sums voted for
constructing new vessels and to carry on
work authorized one and two years ago
give striking evidence that there is q FIX
ed purpose on the part OF nations to
maintain their naval strength.
The reports viii serve as a basis for
some statement TO Congress next session
to strengthen claims that the United
States is not advancing in naval strength
as fast as either Germany OF Russia, and
that We should at least keep pace with
these Governments
Great Britain continues to lead the
world in extent of her building pro-
gTamme- She is building more battleships
than the United States has in comm .ssion
and more armCred cruisers than the Unit
ed States has torpedo boats in commits
slon- The plan CT each nation for this
year is as follows:
Austria's naval budget amounts to
SS.S2S,629. or 4 considerable increase over
any previous period in her naval develop
meat. Her programme OF expansion for
the year provides for I1Gg-tOn battle
ship, an armOred cruiser. three torpedo
boat cruisers Of about 2.300 tons and a
small unprotected cruiser Nearly all
these ships VIII mount Krupp guns
That France COutempIates maintaining
her position as the second ranking naval
power Of the globe is manifest in the
enormous sums she devotes in the present
year to new construction. She is turning
out battleships and armored cruisers with
remarkable raoidity. and in the subma-
Tine boat type now leads the world. At
the present rate she VIII for years easily
outrank all other nations except Great
Britain.
Six battIeships Of 1865 tons: five ar
moTed cruisers Of 12.6f1 tons. and 3 tor
pedo boats OF about 5N5 tons, are a part
Of Frances increase plan In addition to
these, torpedo boats and submarine boats
are authorized Of which the total cost
viii be about 81. .G51.91l Two battleships
of 1856 tons are building. in addition to
two sister ships Of i2,e52 tons, and one
of less than 5000 tons. She is further
building % armored cruisers from 1850
tons to 100 tons. No Power is building
so many of so large class Two pro-
tected cruisers are also under coustruc-
ton, and at least 30 torpedo boat craft
Twelve-inch guns are the heaviest car
ried on her great ships, and are of
longer range than most guns Of the same
caIibTe in other countries.
Germany-s naval budget for this year
has been fixed at $1S. .g59,S SIS for the Ordi-
nary expenditure and 2S.794.703 for the
extraordinary. The Emperor has in mind
navy out7anked only by Great Britain
and France There are now in course Of
construction five battleships Of 1900 tons
and three Of u,120 tons This is d pro-
pramme, however, very little in excess of
that now being carried out by the United
States, and in tonnage the battIeships
building in this country exceed those Of
Germany. Her aTmOred cruisers now
building number but three, while the
United States is building double that num-
Der, and all of much greater tonnage.
Germany Is building however nine pro-
tected sruisers Of 26t5 tons, and six tor
pedO boat GestrOyers. -
Great Britain is constantly increasing
her sea strength, the total amount of her
naval estimates for this year being SI5G-
O0J-UJ5- The new programme provides fo-
three battleShzps, six aTmOTed cruisers.
two third-class cruisers. ten torpedo boat
OeSJTDEeTS- iEG torpedo boats Two SlOOpS-
of-war. and five submarine boats OF the
Holland type, the latter being the first
authorized for the British naval service.
In hattleships building Great Britain
leads any Two other Powers combined She
ranks France and Germany IN this re
spect or Germany and the United States.
she IS building a great many arnOred
cruisers and they are among the heav-
lest Of their class. Four Of her battle
ships are Of 1888 tons each six are Il 90
tons displacement. and three are Is, 600
tons displacement. Four armored Cruis-
ers have displacement Of 14-IG5 tons
each. and six are Of 12,e9G tons. while q
dozen are Of less tonnage Four pro-
teCted cruisers of from II 800 tons to 200
tons are also a part Of her present build
ing programme. while there are six gun
boats and - torpedo boat craft. Great
Britain intends TO easily maintain navy
equal TO the combined strength Of any
two other European Powers She Is now
well ahead of them.
italy although one Of the poorest Of
the large Powers continues to increase
her sea strength Her estimates for this
year amount to 50. .G5G.gG6. Two large bat
tleshirs are TO be laid down this year
The extent Of JaranS increase is limit
ed to some vessels building in Great Bri-
tain and the TefItJing OF d number of old
vessels at home.
The Russian naval budget provides for
q total expenditure Of so 000. .6G1 She is
building all classes Of waTShIps in great
numbers. and of heavy displacement. Her
programme equals that Of Germany
Spain has outlined a DTeJcutIUuS pro
Er2mme Of naval construction, but i has
received no approval She wants to build
eight battleships. four aTnoTed cruisers.
and 100 torpedo boats, but she Is without
means
MaryIand'S Oyster Law.
CAMBRIDGE, Nd, May 2G-Capt-
Frank Cannon swore out q writ for Com