The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-25
Their NavicS
MOI Formidable
What the so-ealled Neutral Pow
ers" Possess.

s-e-e-~-S-4-s--e-e -
While the great maritime powers are
striving might and main in the struggle
for naval supremacy. there ere one OF
Two Important countries 70 whom WHOM ilas5, ~,
in the modern sense Of the word. Is hn-
necessary and useless says Answers :.
Such countries ere automatically known
as neutral powers.
The most typical Instance IN this con-
ngetion Is that OF Belgium. Although
sandwiched between France and Germa-
ny, aDprehensiOns of annexation Dy eltneI
never pertlrbs the minds OF the bsisldin
politicians. The great powers mutually
guarantee Belglum's integrity Inc Eei- M
gfan fleet. however, comprises some sew
enteen vessels. but the last thlhs lheS
would be mt for is fighting
The larger number are employed as man
packets, and any traveller VINO mas lVui-
neyed between England and Ostenq IN
a packet Tying the red. yellow and black
tricolor has really made the trip on .
Belgian nian-of-war. The TWO crack wa.
ships are Of 79s tons, and have speed vi
twenty-Cne knots. The ofnceEs naNlsat-
ing the vessels comprise the naval re-
serve.
Those vessels which are not employed
in the purely pacific capacity are mann
tained for the protection OF tne nsnlnE
along the coast. In addition To thls ncet,
however, there are number OF shallow
draught stern wheel boats patrolling the
rivers Of the Congo, but this navy IS dls-
tinct from that OF Belgium proper fet
the country has ambitions toward naEai
supremacy, for there are two coast de-
fense vessels and SIX torpedo boats pro-
jected.
In view Of the large extent4A the sea
line of Mexico the navy posseSse0 Dy that
country for the defense of its coast yerges
upon the ridiculous. The inhabitants
cannot complain OF being ground dowii
by taxation TO support their navy, since
ii comprises only eight vessels, and four
Of these are wofully obsolete. The four
largest and most recent were constructed
In 1923 and are Of 1,2so tons and 10
knots speed.
SIN, Mexico has no fears Hands ofrn'
is the cry Of Uncle Sam when any power
casts longing eyes upon Mexico ana It's
wealth. But the extent Of Mexico's In
terests and her revtving prosperity ue-
mand extra naval force, and program
has been elaborated for six cruisers ana
eight torpedo boats, spread over nve
years, at an outlay Of S1.000.Od0 year.
Egypt is another country winch has
been saved the necessity OF building up a
navy By It's protection under England il am, 5
comprising a feet, but the majority OF
these may safely be placed in the same
category as the Thames steamboats-they
are about as ancient and efficient,
The Egyptian man-of-war when not
belchinq forth shot and shell. serves as
the khedive's yacht, another as trans
port and several in the capacity Of coast
guard steamers.
Many Of the South American states,
though immune from European aggres-
sion. thanks to the Monroe doctrine. yet
maintain navies-just. as 1t 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 Saliva
dor The former has one gunboat of 44O
tons carrying four three-pounder guns
and two smaller steamers while the lat-
n
solitary gunboat Is only seventy-tiye tons.
and the armament consists OF one small
quick-iring gun.
Some Of these powers-such as Ecuador
and the efreryescent Venezuela--possess
second hand warships. Ecuador has two
old wooden and iron tubs, purchased from
France while Venezuela acquired an OBJ
solete Spanish torpedo gunboat, which
now acts as flagship.
1t would be interesting 70 learn the
salaries which the acmirals of the navies
Of Liberia Cambodia Korea or Persia
receive in respect of their duties. anf.
furthermore, exactly what their dGnes
comprise The Liberian admiral mas
probably the easiest office. A year OF
two ago there were two vessels demand
ing his supervision, but ore. unfortunate
ly, foundered while at anchor. The re-
manning vessel, the RocktoWn, steam
schooner. Is scarcely sufficiently seawOr-
thy to venture beyond shallow water. and
the crew, II would appear pass their time
'potting" seagulls.
OF late the Korean navy has faded into
oblivion. in comparison with the titanic
forces at present in those waters. But
there are two vessels-the Chi Rong OF
700 tons. and the Bankehef Henrikson Of
GOO tons. What their speed is would
make an entertaining guessing competi-
tion. Both warships by the way. were
procured from Norway. and so Indifferent
is the country to naval affairs that they
have not yet troubled to change the name
Of the second vessel which still retains
its original Norwegian nomenclature
Another curious little navy IL that OF
Sarawak. The present representative Of
Rajah Brooke cannot renounce his Eng
lish desires for navy, so has gathered
together a motley feet of three vessels
the Lorna Doone and the Aline. small
screw steamers, each carrying two small
guns, and a small paddleboat.
Morocco boasts two small vessels
Though obsolete. they are more formid-
able than the Costa Rican memo war or
that Of JOhore. Even volcanic Haiti
maintains navy to strike additional
terror into the hearts Of its foes. II Is a
motley feet in being. and one shot from
a six-inch gun would send the whole
OF hulks to the bottom