Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-08
HOLLAND TO SPEND
MILLIONS ON NAVY
Dutch to Build a Number Of Cruisers
and Submarines and Arm Them
During the Next Year.
COLONIES TO FOOT THE BILL

COLONIES TO FOOT THE BILL
Correspondence Of the Associated Press)
THE HAGUE. Netherlands. June 20.
Fast cruisers and submarines are
20 form the bulk OF the additions to
the Dutch navy in 1915, according to the
naval budget The minister OF marine
obtained the consent OF parliament to
begin the building Of two new cruisers
and four submarines OF the biggest type
At once, while he was authorized TO pur-
chase a number OF hydro-aeroplancs.
The cruisers are 10 develop g speed OF
thirty knots at their trials and 20 pos
sess a steaming radius OF 5000 miles at
minimum speed Of twelve knots. They
are 10 dlspiace 5000 tens and 90 cost
$4,000 each, and are TO be built In
Holland under the supervision OF for
oign firm. which must guarantee the
quality OF their construction and that
they attain the requirements laid down
by the government. they are TO be
armed with ten 6-inch ouick-firing guns,
four s-inch semi-automatic quick-flrers.
arranged for use az antl-alrship weapons.
snd four machine guns. The armor belt
IL 10 be OF 3-inch plates and the decks
also are TO be reinforced by steel. Tur-
Tine engines are to be used and liquid
fuel to be burned.
To Make vessels Comfortable.
Each Of the four new submarines 10
TO dispiace 800 tons and TO possess SIX
torpedo tubes. The cost OF each Is esti-
mated at 10000.
Both the cruisers and submarines are
70 be fitted with special ventilation ar
rangements and the accommodation for
the crews Is to be OF the most modern
Kind, 30 as 10 make the vessels COM
Portable In the tropics.
The new hydro-aeropianes (six In num-
tar) are 10 cost $500 each and are 70
be purchased abroad. II had been in
tended by the government TO Introduce
a more extensive program, but the min
listers considered 81 wiser 20 wait till the
end Of the war. so as 70 profit by it's
lessons.
The reason big battieships were not
provided for was that IN case Holland
should be drawn into the war, the Dutch
fleet would be compelled 70 adopt the
principle OF a strategical defensive. rein
forced by an occasional offensive by the
submarine. whose presence would make
the North Sea perilous for any enemy
warcraft.
Hollands coasts contain inlets. each
OF which would serve az base for sub
marines. which, with the assistance Of
fast mine layers and the strewing Of the
shallow coast waters with fixed mine
fields. would play the most important
part in Dutch sea operations.
To Defend East ladies.
The Dutch colonies In the East Indies
also could be placed in an excellent state
OF defence BY means of submarines. fast
cruisers and destroyers. and much OF the
Dutch navy IL stationed IN colonial waters
for this purpose. Az q matter OF fact,
half Of the money voted for this years
naval appropriations IL TO be paid by the
colonies themselves.
II has always been a fundamental idea
OF those IN charge OF the Dutch naval
defence to have the beat possible material
at hand even though Il should be only
small IN quantity For this reason II has
been decided 70 replace nearly all the
present Dutch war vessels by newly con-
structed ships as soon as possible. The
two newest ships OF the navy are the
Jacob van Heemskerck. built IN 1906 and
the zeven Provlncien. built IN 1909. Some
OF the others are very old. The Kor-
tenaer. for instance. IL expected TO be
placed out OF commission after one more
trip 70 the West Indies. Tho Koningen
Regentes. The Dc Ruyter and the Hertog
Hendrix. too. are IS years old. while four
other cruisers are old and. although they
carry good guns arc not regarded as Of
much fighting value.
Dutch sailors Are Fighters.
The Dutch sailor Il universally con-
sidered as among the best. Like the men
Of I'll other navies. he IL uniformed In
blue. The cut OF his clothes IL similar
10 that Of the German bluejacket and
like him and the fighting sailors OF all
other nationa they bear similar orna-
nents TO those worn by the men Of the
British fleet-the three white stripes on
the borders Of the fall-down collar which
celebrate Nelson's three victories OF the
NILE. Copenhaesn and Trafalgar and the
Hack Bcraf worn In sailors knot below
the collar in front as sign Of mourning
for Nelson.
The total number Of sailors regularly
serving with the vessels OF the fleet IL IN
round figures 1000 men OF ali ranks. but
1T the present time some OF the naval
militia taken from the ranks OF the
fisherermen and the merchant marine
have been called up. This fact has caused
the cost OF the Dutch navy 20 rise 70
sum considerably higher than is usual
and an increased Appropriation for their
maintenance was necessary