condition and length of service at sea. For service in the first class of the reserve a man must be under 30 years of age unless he has served in the navy, in which case he may enter the reserve up to the age of 35. He must also have passed a satisfactory medical examination and have served a specified time at sea. There has been some criticism on the policy pursued by Great Britain in carrying out the programme set forth by the Naval Defence Act of 1889, in that she has spent such vast sums in the construction of extremely large vessels, rather than in completing a larger number of smaller ships. Lord Brassey, writing on this subject in the NAVAL ANNUAL for 1890, summing up various expert opinions says, "If the heavy ships have great offensive powers and can be more fully protected by armor, the arguments from many of the authorities seem to incline the scale in favor of types of the less exaggerated form, a greater number of which can be produced for any given sum of money. Whatever be the type, there remains a conspicuous advantage in the superiority of numbers." FRANCE. Her armored fleet has some of the finest war ships afloat, to which she is annually making additions. In 1897, according to the budget estimates of the expenditure for that year, the item of 237,147,390 francs was set down to the Department of Marine, which figures show a considerable increase since 1880. The administration of the French navy is under the control of the Minister of Marine, whose staff is divided into three sections having charge respectively of coast defences and colonial affairs; observation of the development and administration of foreign navies; and the mobilization, training, and distributing of the French navy. The French coast is divided into five maritime sections having headquarters at the naval ports of Cherbourg, Brest, Lorient, Rochefort and Toulon, each with extensive shipyards and naval stores. France maintains an active reserve squadron in the Mediterranean, a squadron in the Channel, and vessels in the Atlantic, Pacific, the far east, the waters about Cochin China, and the Indian Ocean. Besides these, a number of vessels are employed as training ships, and there are numerous vessels at local stations. The continual accessions to and improvements of the French navy had brought it in 1896 to a position second only in rank to that of the British navy. At the close of 1891 what was known as the "decennial programme" was entered upon, and in accordance with it, the navy has been increased and improved, but since that date the programme has been modified in several particulars. It was planned to replace all inferior ships, or such ships as were becoming antiquated, by entirely new vessels. Eight new ships were, according to this plan, to be constructed each year, reaching a total of 82 additional vessels by the year 1901. This number has not been annually launched, but the budget estimates for 1897 contemplate a greater activity in shipbuilding. The numbers of the French navy are maintained partly by voluntary enlistment and partly by conscription. It has been customary since the time of Colbert to keep a list of the names of men in the country who lead a seafaring life. By these means a naval reserve is secured numbering about 114,000 men, of whom 25,500 serve with the fleet. The law of 1872 permits a certain number of young men liable to military or naval service to choose between the army and the navy, even though not enrolled on these lists. The naval statistics for 1896 were as follows: 20 battle ships of the first class, 8 of the second class, 6 of the third class, 14 port defence ships, 14 cruisers of the first, 29 of the second, and 106 of the third class, and 211 torpedo craft. Besides these there were in process of construction 1 battle ship, 3 cruisers of the first class, 3 of the second class, and 3 of the third class, and 9 torpedo craft of the first class. Some of the largest vessels are the Gaulois, St. Louis, Bouvet, Charlemagne, Masséna, Carnot, Jauréguiberry, Charles Martel, Brennus, Magenta, Marceau, Neptune, Hoche, Formidable, Amiral Baudin, Courvet, Dévastation, Amiral Duperré, each of which has a displacement of over 10,000 tons and an indicated horse power ranging from 7,000 to 14,500. The Hoche, with a tonnage of 10,823 and an indicated horse power of 11,000, is one of the most remarkable vessels in the fleet, having an extraordinarily high superstructure. Her guns are considerably above the water line and can be worked in all weathers. Revolving turrets, each enclosing a 13.4-inch gun, are fore and aft, and she has two 10.8-inch guns with barbette turrets, protected by shields. The speed is estimated at 17 knots. The Neptune, Marceau, and Magenta resemble the Hoche. The Masséna and the Bouvet are still more powerful vessels, the latter having a displacement of 12,012 tons, with an indicated horse power of 14,000. The Charles Martel is also a remarkable vessel. It was launched in 1893 and was the largest vessel constructed at the French government dockyards. GERMANY. In the German navy one of the most important changes lies in the fact that she is now able to build the hulls and machinery within her own borders, and to show as fine models and workmanship as can be found in any of the other maritime nations. The organization of the navy was of course changed after the formation of the empire at the end of the war of 1870–71, and a further reorganization was carried out in accordance with the cabinet order of March 30, 1889. The administration is under a naval secretary of state, who, in turn, is under the chancellor of the empire. The chief command is separated from the administration and is vested in a naval officer. As to the distribution of the fleet, it is divided between stations in the Baltic and stations in the North sea, the chief establishments being those at Kiel in the former, and Wilhelmshaven in the latter, and communication between these points is now afforded by the Kaiser Wilhelm canal from Kiel to the Elbe, which was opened in 1895. There was a new programme for naval extension laid down in 1888-89, calling for what was practically a new fleet. Among the vessels planned were four first-class barbette battle-ships of 10,000 tons, and with 13-inch armor. There were also to be 10 new coast-defence armor-clads, 8 cruisers, 5 small cruisers, and a number of small vessels. The programme was changed in some particulars, but at the close of the year 1895, including such additions as had been made, the fleet comprised 5 battle-ships of the first, 5 of the second, and 4 of the third class, 20 port-defence ships, 35 cruisers, and 105 torpedo craft. There were also at that time 1 battle-ship of the first class, 7. cruisers, and 9 torpedo craft in process of construction. Among the largest vessels in the German navy, in 1896, was the König Wilhelm, with a tonnage of 9,603. This however, is an old vessel, having been launched in 1868. The Wörth, launched in 1892, and having a displacement of 9,840 tons and an indicated horse-power of 9,500; the Weissenburg, and the Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm, each launched in 1891 and having the same displacement and indicated horse-power as the first named, are also important vessels. The Kaiser Friedrich III., launched in 1896, is a still larger vessel, having a displacement of 10,054 tons, with an indicated horse-power of 13,000. In 1896 a new armored cruiser, the Leipsic, with a displacement of 10,482 and an indicated horse-power of 15,000, was in process of construction. The thickest armor plating on any of the vessels was 15 inches. There are certain merchant vessels which are subsidized by the German navy as cruisers. The principle on which the service is manned is that of conscription of the maritime population, which term includes not only sailors, fishermen, ship-carpenters and the like, but also men who have had less experience on the sea. In 1896 the number of seafaring Germans in the country was estimated at 80,000. In 1896-97 the personnel of the fleet comprised a total of 21,835 officers and men. GREECE. The Greek fleet was supposed, on the outbreak of the war of 1897, to be by far the more efficient arm of the service, and its great superiority to the poor affair which Turkey calls her fleet, led to high hopes of its success in the coming war. It was condemned, however, by the policy of the government to comparative inaction, and accomplished little. It consisted, in 1896, of three cruisers of the first class, 3 of the second class, 2 port-defence armor-clads, 6 torpedo craft of the first, and 11 of the third class, and several smaller vessels. The personnel numbered 3,165 men. The navy is manned partly by conscription from the people on the sea-coast, and partly by enlistment, the term of service being 2 years. HAYTI. The republic of Hayti has a fleet of small cruisers. In 1895 there was an addition to the flotilla of the Créte-a-Pierrot, with a displacement of 940 tons and a speed of 15.5 knots. ITALY. The organization of the navy is based on the royal decree issued in 1893. There is a naval general secretaryship, with the assistant secretary of the navy at its head. Under him is an admiral, as chief of the staff, a medical inspector, and other officers having special charges. The department of merchant marine is administered by a civil official under the direction of the assistant secretary. The Italian coast is divided into 3 prefectures, namely Spezia, Naples, and Venice, and vessels of the fleet are apportioned under these prefectures, and some are stationed at Taranto. A large sum has been devoted in recent years to the improvement of the navy. The item of expenditure for the year ending June 30, 1897, was set down as nearly 95,000,000 lire. In 1896 the fleet consisted of 10 battle-ships, 2 port-defence ships, 49 cruisers, and 145 torpedo craft. At that date there were also 2 battle-ships of the first class, 7 cruisers and 2 torpedo craft in process of construction. The tonnage of the first class cruisers is 5,000 or more, and they have a speed of 17 knots or over. They are deck-protected and have side armoring. The heaviest battle-ships afloat in 1896 were the Italia and the Lepanto, with a displacement of 15,900 tons. These are among the largest and the strongest war-ships afloat. The Ruggiero di Lauria, with a displacement of over 11,000 tons, and her two sister ships are also very powerful vessels, with 18-inch armor protecting the vital parts. Other vessels especially worthy of notice are the Re Umberto, Sardegna, and Sicilia. The battle-ship Ammiraglio di Saint-Bon, in process of construction in 1896, seems to mark a change of policy on the part of the Italian government in the building of armorclads, for more attention is given to the armor and equipment than to mere size, its displacement being only 9,800 tons. In 1896 the total number of officers and men in the Italian navy was 24,560. JAPAN. Japan has a navy which in the war with China gave proof of great bravery and effectiveness. It is under the administration of the minister of marine, who is a member of the cabinet. The chief command is in the hands of the admiral, who is chosen from those on the active list, and is responsible to the emperor for the conduct of the fleet. For purposes of administration the Japanese coast is divided into 5 maritime districts, with docks, arsenals, and barracks at their respective headquarters. In 1896 the navy consisted of 2 first class battle-ships, and 6 in process of construction, 5 armored cruisers, 10 second-class cruisers, and 6 in process of construction, 17 thirdclass cruisers, and 4 in process of construction, 28 torpedo boats, 4 torpedo destroyers, and several other torpedo craft in process of construction. The largest vessels in 1896 were the battle-ships Yashima and Fuji, with a displacement of 12,446 and 12,140 tons respectively, and an indicated horse-power of 13,687 and 14,194 respectively. Each carried 38 guns, and had an estimated speed of 184 knots. With the exception of these, the vessels in the Japanese navy do not show a large displacement. The next in size to the two mentioned was a battle-ship captured from the Chinese, having a displacement of only 7,430 tons. The personnel of the navy, in 1894, numbered 7,542. The exact numbers in 1896 were not given, but there was undoubtedly a considerable increase over preceding years. A programme for naval expansion was undertaken in 1896, involving an addition to the navy by the end of 1902 of 4 battle-ships of 15,000 tons each, as well as a number of large cruisers and torpedo craft. This plan would make an addition of 101,860 tons. |