BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-09-16

Mediterranean fleet or in more distant
waters, while still more powerful ones
are building or are authorized A
glance at the list of British ships shows
how absurd these critics became when
they compare unfavorably the navy of
to day as illustrated at this coronation
review with the navy of 1897 as illustrat
ed at the Diamond Jubilee review.
Taking into account only modern
ships, that is, ships which have been
authorized and built since the great
programmes of 1880 were made,
England has built or is building
forty-fve first class battleships, twenty
eight armored cruisers, nineteen first
class protected cruisers, forty-seven
second-class cruisers and nineteen
third-class. In the last five years she
has put to sea five 1850 ton battleships
of the Caesar class, six I2o5o-ton
battleships of the Canopus class, FIVE
I5,ooo-ton battleships of the Formidable
class, eight II,ooo-ton protected cruisers
of the Diadem class and five 1900 ton
armored cruisers of the Cressy class.
In addition to these she has now build
ding three I6,35o-ton battleships of the
King Edward class, five o8oo-ton
armored cruisers of the Suffolk class
and six 10 200 armored cruisers of the
Hampshire class; and she is com mpletipg
three I5ooo-ton battleships of the
Venerable class, six ID ooo.ton. battleships
of the Albemarle class, four Ia ooo-ton
armored cruisers of the Drake class, one
I2,ooo-ton armored cruiser and five of
$500 tons each, making in all twelve
battleships and twentv-one arnored
cruisers which will b. in commission
within the next two or three years.
A comparison of these with the
navies of her rivals shows that En-
gland is keeping pace with France,
Russia and Germany combined. In
1897 England had thirteen first class
battleships which dated since 1880, and
thirteen first-class cruisers. France had
four frst-class battleships, two second
class, and one cruiser. Russia had
three frst-class battleships, three second
class and two cruisers. Germany had
four first,class battleships and one first
class cruiser. Thus five years ago
England had two more frst-class modern
ships than the three powers combined,
five less second-class batt1eships and
nine more frst-class cruisers. Since
1897 England has commissioned sixteen
irst-class battleships, as compared with
Frances six. Russia seven and Ger
many five, while in first.class cruisers
England has commissioned thirteen,
France six, Russia five and Germany
two But in the matter of ships build
ing England is falling behind
her combined rivals. In this class
with her are fourteen batteships
of 2I2,ooo tons and twenty-three first
class cruisers of 100000 tons. France
is building or will shortly lay down six
tattleships of 1900 tons, and fourteen
frst-class cruisers of $4,000 tons; Russia
nine battleships of 10000 tons and
eight frst-class cruisers of $4,000 tons;
and Germany nine battleships of Io1, 900
tons and three frst-class cruisers of 2z,-
600 tons.
These figures seem to show that, all
things being equal in respect to the in
dividual qualities of the ships themsel-
yes, England has not had nor is she in |
danger of having much difficulty in
keeping abreast the navies of the dual
alliance. But if it become necessary
for her to count in Germany as a pos
sible member of a combination against
her and therefore feels it necessary to
Keep her fleet equal to the combined
fleets of France, Germany and Russia,
t is evident that most trying strain
will be put on her finances, But as the
1avies stand today, she is fairly we'll
IF, despite the presence Of the Devas-
alton in the reviewing line.