New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-09
Continued from third page.

are magnificent vessels OF about %, 500 tons
displacement and Of speed something over
twenty-one knots. These ships are armed
with turret batteries Of twelve Pinch
guns Of high power. and these German
DreadnouChts would be able 10 give
fine account OF themselves In battle The
other Dreadnoughts building are larger and
even more formidable and in this respect
the Kaiser's battle feet is rejecting the
steady advance which is being made by
other maritime nations. The eventual
strength Of the German navy is to consist
Of not only the thirty-eight battleships and
the twenty armored cruisers to which we
have referred. but there are TO be lesser
fighting craft IN the form Of % cruisers and
IA destroyers. not mentioning submarine
boats. for which independent provision Is
being made from time 70 time.
As matters stand now the German navy
has 100 destroyers built, as against our IS
Of the same class in service and the
Kaiser has building y OF these vesscls anu
we have IA under construction The dis
rari,v be+ween our service and that of the
Fatherland in this type OF torpedo Vessel -
unfortunately great. and there Is no dlter-
ence OF opinion among naval men as 10 t'e
important part which the destroyer may
possibly play in the next great rght upon
tho sea. The destroyer Is. In fact' an
oceangoing torpedo boat. and those OF 'he
German navy would prove effective uhltS
for oversee work, especially in view OF inc
dash and courage which their officers ana
crews have shown during periods or very
exacting YEARLY mannuvres. However our
NUN destroyers are more effective craft De-
cause Of their greater displacements ana
tboir corresnondIngly better sea keeping
qualities But this is little consolation IN
the light Of the difference IN the huihoei
we have available. Germany mas 'o'ddy -
submarines In service, and we nave - ""
tho other hand, we have Is under c"ns'ruc-
ton and Germany has 10 bulldlhg OF a"-
thorized The German policy regarding
under water craft In the past has IN ~ an
interesting lesson
When the French ran feVerlshly ''"''1
ths exalting Of the submarine ana staI'eu
the building of many Of these boats IN the
proclaimed belief that they offered chedp
opd .ffectiye form OF coast and harDor ne-
fence, the Germans kept steadlly aheao III
their construction OF armored shlps. III
fact. Admiral Won TirpitZ declared over anu
over again that the submarine "oui'
never be of any military value, and the
cernan authorities studiously avoided ask
ing the Reichstag for money Tor such
craft. 1t is doubtful now. in view OF the
submarines building In German yaroA tha'
tho naval authorities really lacked then
faith I'm the potential possibilities OF under
water torpedo boats, but they did not inteno
IN have their thrifty citizens hesitate In
subscribing the funds more urgently needed
in the upbuilding Of an armored line OF
battle.
When sufficient battleships and armoreo
cruisers were agreed upon and the naval
oct of 1900 had become q deep rooted ex-
nression of tho national will. then the
Kaiser's advisers welcomed the submarine
7, came TO them by way Of France and
through n Spanish engineer. r. d'EQueviney
The spaniard was undoubtedly inspired by
thu successful accomplishments OF the
French submarine designers. and he even
offered his plans to the Ministry Of Marine
of France before approaching the Krupp
neople But the Laubeuf boat was then In
high favor with the French authorities and
D'F,ouevilley's plans were declined. The ex-
cellent performances Of his submersibles
s,nca built at the Germania Works at Kiel
have probably made the powers In Paris re-