New-York tribune., 1911-09-06
| GERMAN FLEET BELIEVED
TO SURPASS OUR OWN
Kaiser Reviews a Navy Amount
ing to Some 100000 Tons
in Displacement.
GREAT ARMADA AT KEEL
Emperor Passes Fleet on His
Yacht Hohenzollern, with Fu-
ture Ruler of Austria Hun
gary as His Guest.

Kiel. Sept. 5.-The feet reviewed to-
dav by the Kaiser is believed by experts
here 10 give Germany for the first time
the rank of the second naval power OF
the world, the three 22,OOO-ton Dread
noughts of the Ostfriedland class and
the two Dreadnought cruisers Won der
Tam $4,000 tons) and Biucher Clo,JOo
tons), commissioned during the year.
ousting the United States from the place
which il held by a slender margin last
year.
While the three new battleships. the
first German ships to be armed with =
inch guns, did not actually take part in
the review. they attracted much atten-
ton as they lay at anchor in the har-
bor. Their design and dimensions have
been closely guarded secrets until very
recently. The appearance of the new
armored cruisers was fairly familiar on
account of their latticework masts.
Four other Dreadnoughts. the Nassau.
the Westfalen. the Rheinland and the
Posen. each of which dsplaces 1S,2W
tons. were the chief units Of the as
sembled fleet through the lines Of which
the Emperor passed. Giving an impress
sion of almost equally immense power
were the five battleships of the Deutsch-
land class of 1920 tons. and five Of the
Braunschweig class, Of about the same
displacement.
Ninety nine Fighting Ships.
The other vessels. composing the third.
or reserve, squadron of battleships.
formed for the occasion, comprised one
Wittelsbach of II 500 tons, four OF the
Kaiser class Of 1l,15O tons and two
Brandenburgs A complete idea was
thus obtained of the recent progress OF
the fighting units in Germany's fleet.
Then came in succession, after the Won
der Tam and the Blucher. three other
powerful first class and eleven smaller
cruisers. sixty-six Of the most modern
torpedo boats, divided into six fiotillas,
and several submarines and special
ships. There were in all ninety-nine
fighting ships participating. exclusive Of
the large number of torpedo boat de-
stroyers, torpedo boats, mine planters
and submarines.
The total displacement of the great
fleet gathered to-day amounted in round
figures TO about 100000 tons. Its en-
eines were capable Of developing 1,4OO.-
600 horsepower while it was manned by
I oOO officers and 10000 men. The
armament consists of 1SS big guns, ASS
of medium calibre and go smaller can
NON without counting machine guns.
while the vessels are fitted with 400 tor
pedo tubes
The sky at dawn to-day was covered
with clouds, and rain threatened to spoil
the spectacle Later in the day. how
ever. the weather frightened, and fair
view of the great armada was obtain
bile.
AS the imperial yacht the Hohenzol-
lern. with the Emperor and his party on
hoard. proceeded down the bay squad
ron of thirty crowded excursion steam
ers. which had waited at the outer light
ship fell in line behind the imperial
yacht.
The vessels of the feet steamed up to
meet the imperial reviewing party. every
ship firing the imperial salute OF thirty
three guns and breaking out gay dis
play Of bunting.
The warships passed the Hohenzollern
In an endless column. the
crews manning the rails and Justify.
cheering when abreast OF the reviewing
party.
After the review the Kaiser trans
ferred his flag to the battleship Deutsch-
land. and the fleet put to sea for
at which spectators were
not permitted
In honor Of the Austrian heir pre-
Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
who was IA guest on board the imperial
Yacht Hohenzolern. all the German
Continued on third page.