New-York tribune., 1905-01-01
THEIR NAvIEs NOT FORMIDABLE.
What the So-Called Neutral Powers"
Possess.

While the great maritime powers striving
might and main in the struggle for naval suprem-
acy. there are two important countries to
whom navy. in the modern sense of the word. is
unnecessary and useless says Answers" Such
countries are automatically known neutral
powers"
The most typical instance in this connection is
that of Belgium. Although sandwiched between
Germany and France. apprehensons Of annexation
by either perturbs the minds OF Belgian poll
tcians. The great powers mutually guarantee
Belgium's integrity. The Belgian feet. however.
comprises some seventeen vessels. but the last
thing they would be fit for is lighting
The larger number employed mail packets
and any traveller who has journeyed between Eng
land and Ostend in packet flying the red yellow
and black tricolor has really made the trtD on a
Belgian man-of-war. The two crack warships ara
of 79S tons, and have speed OF twenty-one knots
The officers navigating the vessels comprise the
naval reserve.
Those vessels which are not employed Ia the
purely pacific capacity maintained for the pro-
lection OF the fishing along the coast In addition
TO this feet. however. there are a number OF shall
low draGght, stern wheel boats parolng the rivers
Belgium proper. Yet the country has ambitoEs
defence vessels and six torpedo boats proiected
M IN view or the large extent OF the sea line OF
defence of its coast verges upon the ridiculous TN,
mh1naDl5+nts IN cannot complain of being ground down
only eight vessels. and four of these are wofully
obsolete The four largest and most recent 1Sere
Knots speed ~ e''AN4 -
SUN. Mexico has no fears Hands oYp. tz thu o.,
1I noD wnGls sam when any power casts longing eyes
Mexieo's interests and her reviving prOsperity a.
Inahd extra naval force and programme has been
elaborated for six cruisers and eight torpedo bots
spread over nve years, at outlay OF Il am S6o n
year. - N-'''''OO0 q
Egypt Is another country which has bas,, .,,,d
the necessity OF building up q navy bv Ire nrNtae
ion under Englands wing. True there are some
Iorty boats comprising fleet, but the majority of
these may be safely placed IN the same cts4ory as
the Thames steamboats-they are about as ancient
and efficient. - N--'
One Egyptian man OF war when NOT belchi,-
Iortn shot ana SHELL serves the KhediVe's vachfs
another as transport and several in the Capacity
OF coast guard steamers.
Many OF the South American States thOuqb Ina,
Raune na If9m european aggression thanks to the
Monroe Doctrine, yet maintain navies-tust. as il
were TO keep their hand in for Quarres between
,heIn are almost OF everyday occurrence. Perhaps
tIs smallest ana most bizarre are those OF Para
quay and San Salvador. The former has one sun
boat of 40 TONS carrying four S-pounder guns spd
two smaller steamers while the latter power ia sfi
worse equipped Tor her solitary gunboat Is only
quick firing gun. '
Some OF these powers-sueh as Ecuador and ,be
ships. Ecuador has two old wooden and iron tubs
purchased from France. while Venezuela aconirSd
an obsolete Spanish torpedo gunboGt which now
il would be interesting to learn the ssls~,..
which the admirals OF the navtes OF Liberia Cam
bodia. Corea or Persia receive In respect az +beir
duties and furthermore. exactly what their a,,tias
comprise The Llberian admiral has probabIS ~
easiest ONCE. year or two ago there were two
fortunately, foundered while at anchor qS.a Ta ra
manning vessel. the Roektown, n steam sehoo,a-
yond shallow water. and the crew II woHIS -
pear, pass their time ''potting'' seaeuus N'' sp-
or late the Corean navy has faded into oblivion
In those waters. But there are two ,Fessslsesh'ss
Chi Rong. or zoo tons. and the Bankchsf Henrtls
sen. or 600 tons. What their speed ia would rnaS.