The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-01-05
THEIR NAMES NoTFoRM1DABLE
What the so-Called Neutral Powers
 Posses.

What the So-Called Neutral Powers
 Posses.
 While tthe great maritime powers are striving might and main in the struggle for naval supremacy, there are one or two important countries to whom navy, in the modern sense of the word, is unnecessary and useless, says Answers" Such countries are automatically known as neutral powers,
 The most typical instance in this connection Is that of Belgium. AL though sandwiched between Germany and France, apprehensions of annexa- tion by either never enters the minds of Belgian politicians. The great powers mutually guarantee Belgiums integ- rity, The Belgian fleet, however, comprises some seventeen vessels, but the last thing they would be fit for Is fighting.
 The larger number are employed as mail packets, and any traveller who has journeyed between England and Ostend in a. packet flying the red. yell low and black tricolor has really made the trip-on d Belgian man-ofswar. The two crack warships are of 7s8 tons. and have a speed of twenty-one knots. The officers navigating the vessels comprise the naval reserve.
 Those vessels which are not employ ed in the purely pacific capacity are maintained for Che protection of the { fishing along the coast. In addition to this fleet, however, there are a number of shallow draught, stern wheel boats I'patrolling the rivers of the Congo, but this navy Is distinct from that of Bel gium proper. Yet the country has am bitions toward naval supremacy, for and six torpedo boats projected. Tn view of the large extent of the sea line of Mexico, the navy possessed by that country for the defence of it's coast verges upon the ridiculous. The inhabitants cannot complain of being ground down by taxation to support their navy, since 1t comprises only eight vessels, and r. of these are wo- fully obsolete. The four largest and most recent were constructed in 1902-0a and are of 1,2S0 tons and IS knots speed. | Still, Mexico has no fears. Hands off is the cry of Uncle Sam when any power casts longing eyes upon Mexico, and it's wealth. But the extent of Mex ico's interests and her reviving pros perity demand extra naval force, and l a programme has been elaborated for six cruisers and eight torpedo boats, spread over five years, at an outlay of 100000 a year.
 Egypt is another country which has been saved the necessity of building up a navy by it's protection under Eng lands wing. True, there are some for ty boats comprising the fleet, but the majority of these may be safely placed in the same category as the Thames steamboats,--they are about as ancient and efficient.
 One Egyptian man of war, when not belching forth shot and shell, serves as the Khedive's yacht; another as a transport, and several in the capacity of coast guard steamers. <,
 E Many of the South American States, though immune from European agres- sion, thanks to the Monroe Doctrine, yet maintain navies--iust, as it were, "to keep their hand in, for quarrels between them are almost of everyday occurrence. Perhaps the smallest and most bizarre are those of Paraguay and San Salvador. The former has one gunboat of 440 tons, carrying four B. pounder guns, and two smaller steam CTS, while the latter power is still worse equipped, for her solitary gunboat is only 75 tons, and the armament con- sists of one quick firing gun. e &v.
 Some of these powers, such as Ecua' dor, and the effervescent Venezuela- possess second hand war ships. Ec- uador has two old wooden and iron tubs purchased from France, while Venezuela acquired an obsolete Span- ish torpedo gunboat, which now acts as flag ship.
 It will be interesting to learn the sal aries which the admirals of the navies of Liberia, Carnbodia, Corea or Persia receive in respect of their duties. and, furthermore, exactly what their duties comprise. The Lberian admiral has probably the easiest office. A year or two ago there were two vessels de- manding his supervision, but one, un. | fortunately foundered while at an- chor. The remaining vessel, the Rock. | town, a steam schooner, is scarcely sufficiently seawOrthy to venture he.