Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-06
shut in the Russian Black Sea feet. it
no AZ.

has been held that the obligation OF
Russia to live up to the treaties is
largely moral. On the other hand, the
United States has never recognized the
right Of the Turk to close the Sea of
Marmora or the Black Sea to fighting
ships, and in 1898 hint that Admiral
Sampson and the feet that had swept
Cervera's squadron from the seas
would knock at the gates and seek re-
dress for the Armenian outrages had a
good effect upon the Porte. 1t has beea
held that Russia, believing destiny will
make her mistress of Turkey sooner or
later, is secretly glad Of the acts
which have closed the entrance to the
Black Sea. II the great White Bear
ever does get control, it can easily lie
Imagined how such treaties would be
cherished and insisted upon.
The hopes of Russia, in this direc-
Ition, II they do exist, must be Of the
slightest. England desires the Oar
danelles closed because 1t would COM
pei very considerable increase of her
Mediterranean squadron, for she here.
as in other parts Of the world, finds It
essential to her national existence to
be mistress. Some years ago a certain
United States Senator predicted that
the United States will sooner or later
be compelled to depart from tradition
and settle for all time the vexed Near
Eastern question by turning out the
Turks and becoming responsible for
the peace of the Turkish States in ECU.
rope. Dreamllke as this proposition
appears. there are those in Europe who
have faith in its Accomplishment. In
the United States the idea has not
even the stability of vision.
Not only is the Dardanelles forti-
fed. but the Bosphorus bristles with
forts In pairs strung out along It's
length at intervals Of two miles. AS
the Russian Black Sea battleships are
the most heavily armored in the world
1t has been suggested that this was
done for the purpose of attempting the
passage of the straits, should necessity
ever arise.
The Ships of the Fleet.
Two of the Black Sea battleships,
the Knyaz Potemkin and the Tria
Zviatitelia, are very speedy ships for
their class. both being able to do seven
teen knots an hour
In addition to the fleet mentioned,
two powerful 1900 ton battleships--
the Ziatoust and the Erstafl-which
are to have an eighteen-knot speed, are
being built, and two protected cruisers,
new type for the Black Sea, of 6,6a5
tons, with twenty-three-knot speed,
are also being built These are to be
named the Kagul and the Otchakow,
and are part Of the new Russian naval
program, which provides for five l6,-
5O0-ton battleships, the largest in the
world-the largest English battleships
being 1880 tons each, and the Con
necticut class for the United States but
10000 tons, the nearest approach to
which class are six French ships of
14,G92 tons each.
One advantage the Russian Black
Sea feet possesses over those of other
powers is the ability Of some of the
ships to burn oil. The Caspian oil
fields are not SO distant that petroleum
may not be economically transported
to the borders of the sea, and. as
against coal, the fuel is cheap and
economically carried. Unfortunately
IN oil tank is not protection to the
boilers when the ship is In action: but
when an 1S-inch armor belt girds the