Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-31

ence of The Bee.)-Are the Ger,
III mans preparing for war with thei
E&S9i United States? I think not. They
49, are Jealous of our commercial
supremacy and in response to the agra
rians have enacted a tariff which may
affect our trade. They would like to overs
throw the Monroe doctrine and develop
South America, but they have no idea OF
attempting anything that might bring on
an American war. Indeed. they realize foe,
the first time. something of our resources
and power. They know they are depend
ent upon us for food; they know also that
we are among their best customers, and
they claim to be the friendliest OF our
friends on the European continent.
As for war preparations, however, they
are always going on in the German empire.
The kaiser is surrounded by nations who
would fight him at any time il they thought
they could win. and he believes that the
best way to prevent war Is to be ready
for II. Today the army and navy are
trained as though war might be declared
tomorrow and all sorts of defenses are
steadily improved.
One gets a good idea of what Is being
done by a look at the naval establishment
at Kiel. The Krupps have a big shipbuilding
yard here which works almost night and
day on the new gunboats the Reichstag has
ordered. Other naval vessels are being
built at Stettin and Danzig, and tens OF
millions OF dollars are being thus spent
every year.
Indeed, the Germans are planning to OBJ
tain the greatest navy of the world. They
want England's place upon the ocean, and
are willing to spend money for many years
TO gain 1t. About Ave years ago the gov
eminent decided to build three battleships
a year for fourteen years, and In addition
a large number of cruisers. torpedo boats
and minor vessels. This scheme is being
carried out. and at the same time the mer-
chant marine is being increased at a
dynamic rate. other acts have since been
passed, and in 1900 a scheme was under
taken which will give Germany within
thirteen years thirty-four new battleships.
eleven large and thirty-four small cruisers,
with many torpedo boats and special serv-
tee vessels. The vessels now In use are
among the best ahoat. A number of them
range In size from 10000 to 1000 tons. They
are protected by the finest OF modern
Armor plate and equipped with armor-
piercing guns of large callber and an enor-
nous number OF quick-firing guns.
Kaiser Friedrich III. which 1 have seen
in the harbor here at Kiel, has forty-nins
four-inch guns. eighteen six-inch quick
firing guns and thirty-two smaller quick
firing guns. 1t is a magnificent vessel OF
over 1900 tons displacement and 1900 horse
power. 1t can make eighteen knots an
hour and is one OF the most heavily armed
ships afoat. Victoria Louise. which is also
here, is much smaller, but 1t Is a beauty.
The navy is now increasing at the rate
of nine or ten vessels yearly, with an In
creased tonnage OF about 1900 a year. We
have at present more vessels than Ger
many. but nearly all the German ships are
OF the most modern build. while some of
ours are slow and out Of date.
I find the German much Interested in the
navy. The people think their sailors SUI
perior to any others. and they have organ
tied a naval society. with a membership Of
more than 500. 1000, devoted to stirring up
sentiment In favor OF naval improvements.
The personnel Of the navy improves every
year. It Is increasing in numbers. and II
now includes something like 5000 men and
boys. There are altogether about $500 ON
GERS. 1900 boys and more than 27,0OO petty
onacers and seamen. In other words. the
Germans have on their war vessels more
men than we had In our army prior to the
Standardization war.
The m have good naval schools.
There Is one here at Kiel with several hun