Evening star., 1915-05-21
TA[YS FLEET RANKS HIGH
AMONG THE SEA POWERS
$50 Warships and 1900 Men in the
Modern Navy Watch
ing Austria.

italy was one OF the hrst countries to
enter the competition for the growth OF
naval power. Her national navy. formed
out of the existing sQuadrons OF Sar-
dinia. Tuscany and Naples, stood the
strain of war of 1866. and the condi-
tions in which the unity of the country
had been achieved during the Franco
Prussian war of 1901, together with
the obvious need Of a navy for ma
t,on with q very extended seacoast. an
imated Italians to great efforts.
Italy succeeded in obtaining tndivid-
ual vessels OF high level of strength,
and she set the example of building
monster ships, armed with monster
guns. until today she is justly ranked
among the important sea powers.
The Duke OF the Abruzzi. commander
in-chief of the Italian fleet has adopted
new system in the composition OF the
fleet. which Is no longer divided into
sauadrons. each under the command OF
a vice admiral, but united under one
supreme command consisting OF seven
divisions, each under a rear admiral.
The new composition Of the italian
fset implies that in case of war all the
ships will be together. operating in the
same sea against one enemy, ana as
the entire fleet Is now in the Adriatic,
although naturally movements OF war
ships have been withheld since the
feet was mobilized, it is no mystery
that Italy's enemy will be Austria.
The italian Fleet.
The Italian fleet, now fully mobilized.
Is composed as follows:
Battleship Regina Margherita uso5).
l34a6 tons, four 1@-inch guns, six 81
inch guns Flagship of the fleet. Com
mander-in-chief.D Duke of the Abruzzi
First division, dreadnaughts. Aear Ad-
miral Corsi-Dante Alighieri tfia gship).
twenty 4.I-inch guns: Giulio Cesare.
22.340 tons Gs1p. thirteen 12-inch.
eighteen 4.1-inch guns. Leonardo da
Vinci, $4,000 tons I91), thirteen L.
Bixio tscout). 1000 tons. six 4I-inch
guns. twenty-five knots, and ten de-
stroyers. 613 tons. one 4.1-inch gun.
four l2-pounders. thirty knots.
Second division, battleships. Rear Ad-
niral Cutinelli-V. Emanuele mag
ship. 12.625 tons $500, two 1s-inch,
twelve S-inch guns: Regina Elena. same
tonnage, equipment and speed: Roma.
same tonnage, equipment and speed.
Napoli. same tonnage, equipment and
speed: Quarto tscout). $500 tons, SIX
4,I-inch guns. twenty-nine knots. and
ten destroyers. 3,a to AIS tons, four 12-
Founders, twenty-nine knots.
Third division. first-class cruisers.
Rear Admiral Cagni-Pisa tf1agship).
$3.50 tons $1,000. four lo-inch. eight
.i.-inch guns. twenty-five knots: s.
GiorSio. same tonnage, equipment and
speed. Amalfi. same tonnage. equip
ment and speed; San Marco. same ton
mage. equipment and speed, MARSHA
scout. $500 tons. six 41-inch guns.
tWenty-nine knots. and eight destroy
ers, $40 tons. one 4.1-inch gun, thirty
knots
Fourth division, second class cruis-
ers. Rear Admiral Belleni-Garibaldi
hacy ychI Iral n
inch. two S-inch. fourteen 6-inch guns.
Nsrese, same tonnage and equipment;
FerruccIo, same tonnage and equip
ment: scouts. Agordat and Coatit and
ten destroyers.
Fifth division. training or school
ships. Rear Admiral Filomarino-Ben-
edetto Brin tfagship!. 1925 tons
ts91). four 10-inch. eight 6-inch. eight
$500 tons. twelve s-inch. six 4.7-inch
guns: Saint Bon. $500 tons. twelve s.
inch. six 4.1-inch guns: Carlo Alberto.
6.t0G tons. twelve 6-inch, six 4.7-inch
guns. and eight destroyers.
sixth division. old ships. Rear Admir-
al Patris-Sardegna tf1agshipJ. 1sSs-
sil. s1-ton B. L. guns. Lombardi. Lig-
uria, Puglia and Etna.
seventh division. torpedo boats and
submarines, Rear Admiral Rifari-Vit-
tor Pisani tdepot ship and flagship.
$500 tons. twelve s-inch. six ~ inch
guns; torpedo boats. modern, 10: sub
marines. 20.
The personnel. including dockyards
and landing parties, amounts to 77,vvo
men.
Cruisers Most Notable.
The battleships have good freeboard
and are enabled to carry a powerful
armament, as their hulls and machinery
are built as lightly as possible. The
cruisers are most notable. as they are
heavily armed. well armored and Of
good speed. The Italian navy has been
completely transformed within the last
ten years and old types Of vessels have
been sold or demolished and are being
replaced by newer types. Thus every
ship is now modern and Of good ight-
ing value.
a normal program of shipbuiIding
is steadily executed and many vessels.
including seven battleships and two
cruisers. besides destroysrs torpedo
boats and submarines are being com
pleted.
The personnel Of the navy on active
service consists of over $500 onicers
and $4,000 men. and IL is divided as fol-
lows: General staff naval engineers.
sanitary corps. commissariat corps and
crews.