Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06

warshipS and cruisers, and materially add
ing to the strength of his navy wherever
possible. He wants to be in n position 10
defend his country against the encroach-
ments of any power in the world
The sultan is also taking an individual In
terest in naval affairs, spending much time
investigating almost daily the condition OF
his improved harbors and new warships,
in his recently constructed yacht, which is
a veritable floating palace, eclipsing In
costliness and magnifcence the palaual
pleasure craft of all other rulers and money
kings of the world. This craft is named
the Erthogroal, and no pleasure yacht in
existence can be compared to 1t.
The designs of the yacht called for sub
divisions between decks, unusual in vessels
of this class. The sultan had personally
ordered them, with the idea of providing
accommodations for the ladies Of his
harem.
Also, the Specifications he approved were
most exacting as to material, workman
ship and embellshments-far more lavish
than those any European or American de-
sgner ever had been commissioned to
make.
Finest in the World.
His majesty's orders were that the Ertho-
groal should be finer craft than King
Edwards Victoria and Albert or Sir Thorn
as Lipton's Erin or the United States
steamer Maylower. the late Ogden Goe-
let's floating mansion purchased by the
government Tor the spanish war.
Many civilized persons, even within the
sultan'S domains, probably wonder where
the money came from, or Is coming from,
to pay the bill on this magnificent vessel
His majesty not long since was reported to
be somewhat embarrassed when the Ameri-
can government called to his august at
tention an account Of merely $4,000. And
other governments and many banking
houses in Europe from time to time have
been painfully pressed to remind his majes-
ty of this or that obligation that may have
slipped his memory. Turkey recently has
been accounted so poor in the family of ma
tons that merely the suggestion of a new
financial obligation has stirred up doubt
and a diplomatic inclination to investigate
before turning over the coin.
And behold-there comes down the Ia
nous Tyne and into the sultan's hands,
conveyed by the new Turkish cruiser Abb
dull Hamid, the most modern, most splen-
did most costly private yacht!
1t would be interesting TO note the prl-
vate comments of the worlds diplomatists
on this extraordinary instance of extravd-
gance.
'The sultan is personally rich" one
statesman might say, land may have
hundred yachts if he chooses"
'As Europe and America haven't forgot
ten the merciless condition of families left
frcm the Armenian massacres," another
might exclaim. 'ft would seem to be impoli-
tic. at least bad form, to make SO much
show of luxurious taste"
And third statesman casually might re-
He's the only head of a nation who can
act seemingly unadvisedly with impunity.
No man has more enemies who are his
political friends His new yacht is his
own-who is going to take it from him2'
The Abdul Hamid.
Prominent among the up-to-date warshlps
already added to the sultan's new navy is
the protected cruiser Abdul Hamid," a
favorite vessel of the sultan. She was re-
Gently built at Elswick ship yard New
castle-on-Tyne. Her principal dimensions
are as follows: Length. $40 feet; breadth,
At feet inches; draught, 16 feet displace-
ment. $500 tons.
A protective deck extends the whole
length of the vessel. She is provided with
boilers and machinery of 1880 i. H. p,
and obtained a speed of twenty-three knots
on her forced draught trial. Her full coal
supply Is 74O tons, and she carries COM
plement of 800 officers and men.
Still another cruiser, recently commits
stoned by the sultan, is the abdul Medji-
dia," which his imperial majesty had built
expressly for the purpose of defending
the Dardanelles. She was the first war
shin ever constructed for the Turkish navy
in the United States.
short time ago Ahmed Pasha, CHIEF
constructor of the Turkish navy. came to
This country for the purpose of examin-
ing our system Of naval construction.
After q thorough survey, both OF ship