The Washington times., 1901-10-25
FOREIGN TOPICS.

During the recent visit Of the Car in
Germany the Kaiser entertained him by
showing him the new German fleet. and
II is well worth seeing. Thirteen years
ago Germany did not own a single battle
snip. and the ambition to possess navy
was not favored by the public, which was
already complaining of the heavy eN-
penses of the ever-increasiug army. Since
those days, however. there has been a
very rapid development and change
Of public sentiment. Kaiser Viii
helm II, with that untiring energy which
is his chief characteristic. has not only
secured appropriations of nearly $3.50 600, =
600 from reluctant Parliament, but has
made the navy popular throughout the
Empire. Today there is scarcely club
or hotel or a picture store that does not
exhibit full length portrait of the I'm
peror in the uniform of an admiral sur
rounded by photographs of battleships.
cruisers, and torpedo boats, which are
sold to the public by the thousands. In
the toy stores the most popular play
things for children are miniature men-of-
war. The entire population seem to have
veered entirely around. and are now de-
manding navy that shall surpass those
of other nations and place Germany at
lack of development in the army, but pub
lie interest is no longer absorbed by that
branch of the service At the end of 1916
the term for which appropriations have
already been made, Kaiser Wilhelm will
see the elimination of his ambition in
feet of thirty-six first-class battleships
and thirty-eight frst-class cruisers of the
most modern and powerful types.
The officers of the German navy are
nearly all young men, having been edu-
Gated during the reign of the present
emperor, and it Is his intention TO keep
them young by passing law retiring
auinlrals at hfty-sLX and captains at fifty.
inns would be great thing for the Amer
icah Navy also, if 1t could be adopted,
because our officers seldom attain com
mand of a ship until they are fifty years
Old, and thus pass the best part of their
lVes IN subordinate positions. The Ger
man emperor believes in young men. and
Is determined that they shall have a
chance. AT the age of fifty, therefore,
officers of the German navy retire from
active service and go on reserve list.
subject to call in time of war in case
their services should be needed.
Germany has also shown far greater
foresight than either England or the Uni
ted States in the matter of training Off
GERS and men. Her schools are filed with
the brightest of the coming generation,
being educated in navigation and gunnery,
ana instead of limiting the graduates,
% we uO at AnnapollS, TO flity or sixty
a year, she is turning out annually 400
or 3OO young sailors competent to COM
mahd shlos at sea. Those who cannot
get berths upon men-of-war are given
practical experience in the merchant ma
rfne upon the fleet of the North German
Lloyd and Hamburg Americas ~.eamship
companies, and MANY are employed as
foremen. engineers. constructors and in
other capacities in the shipyards of the
Empire In the same manner are being
trained thousands of sailors, so that as
fast as new ships are put into commits
sion there are plenty of trained officers
and sailors to man them. The German
navy is much stronger on paper than in
actual service, but everyone must ac-
knowledge that it is a wise policy for a
Government to educate more men than
il needs.