APPENDIX.
Edward Gleichen translation
SKETCH OF THE NAVIES OF EUROPE.
We have now finished with our bird-eye view of the Armies of Europe. A country armed strength does not, however, consist exclusively of her Army; her Navy has to be reckoned with as well. We will, therefore, glance at the naval forces of the chief of the European States.
ENGLAND.
The first place amongst Naval Powers is undoubtedly still held by Great Britain as queen of the seas, however much other nations may try to overhaul her in ships and material. There have certainly been voices heard lately in Parliament anent the alleged standstill—i.e., backsliding, when the race with foreign nations is taken into account—in the naval development of England. The late great Naval Review, however, last August, appeared to disarm all hostile criticism as to the strength and efficiency of the British Fleet. There were at that time, off Portsmouth, several square miles of vessels, altogether 112 fighting-ships. Yet this was but a small portion of England Navy, for the total English Fleet amounts to altogether 763 vessels, as follows:—
Turreted and belted men-of-war 37
Ironclad corvettes and cruisers 80
Sloops and gun-vessels 40
Gunboats 102
Torpedo-boats 120
Torpedo-ships, mine-layers, etc. 43
Despatch-vessels and survey-ships 33
Transports, sailing-vessels, and turret-ships 29
Various, for coast and harbour service 195
Auxiliary ocean steamers 23
Total 702
India 28
South Africa 2
Australia 31
Grand total 763
FRANCE.
France possesses now—
Men-of-war 25
Other ironclads 29
Cruisers 58
Gunboats and avisos 82
Gun-sloops (small) 54
Torpedo-vessels, etc. 16
Torpedo-boats 136
Transports and sailing-ships 72
Coast and harbour service, etc. 107
Auxiliary ocean steamers 14
Total 593
Besides over 200 small sailing-vessels and hulks.
RUSSIA.
Russia has of late years considerably increased her fleet, spending her substance chiefly on large ironclads, which appear to be the fashion nowadays. Her biggest ironclads are those in the Black Sea. The Russian Navy should not be, all the same, considered as a very powerful one, for a great many of her ironclads and torpedo-boats are out of date, and not up to the requirements of modern naval warfare.
The Russian fleet numbers altogether—
Men-of-war 21
Monitors and cruisers 44
Torpedo-vessels and gunboats 21
Torpedo-boats (old and new) 140
Sailing-vessels, etc. 50
Transports, etc. 123
Coast and harbour service 50
Boat-flotilla 33
Total 482
ITALY.
The naval forces of Italy have increased very rapidly during the last twelve years. At present they number—
Men-of-war 19
Corvettes 19
Torpedo-vessels and avisos 26
Gunboats 10
Torpedo-boats 122
Transports and survey-ships 19
Harbour and coast service 92
Auxiliary ocean steamers 7
Total 314
AUSTRIA.
Austria also has considerably increased her fleet. It now consists of—
Men-of-war and cruisers 15
Torpedo-vessels and gunboats 15
Corvettes, Transports, and avisos 21
Torpedo-boats 56
Harbour and coast service 19
Total 126
GERMANY.
The latest recruit to the Naval Powers is Germany, “last not least,” of whose naval organisation we will give a few details.
The officers of the German Navy consist of 2 “Station-Chiefs” at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven with 2 flag-lieutenants, 3 vice-admirals, 17 post-captains, 33 corvette-captains, 64 “captain-lieutenants,” 120 lieutenants, and 114 sub-lieutenants. Besides these, there are 100 naval cadets, and engineers, paymasters, and surgeons in proportion.
The men, when on shore, are formed into 2 Divisions of seamen and 2 Divisions of dockyard men, at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. Besides these, there is a Division of “ship-boys,” a Naval Police Corps, 2 battalions of Marine Infantry at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven, and 2 companies of Marine Artillery at Friedrichsort and Wilhelmshaven, and the Naval Medical Department.
The Marine Reserve and “Seewehr” are formed similarly to the Army Reserve and Landwehr.
The matériel consists of—
Men-of-war and other ironclads 26
Cruisers 26
Torpedo-vessels, gunboats, and avisos 18
Torpedo-boats 93
Various for harbour service 42
Total 205
The original plan for forming a fleet, started in 1872–73, has been departed from in several details, gained from the experience of other nations and from the knowledge of German requirements; economy had also something to do with the matter. The building of huge ironclads was not persevered in, and more attention was paid to increasing the torpedo-flotilla for the defence of the coasts and ports.
Although the Imperial Navy is not yet strong enough to compete successfully with those of other great naval powers on the open sea, still one great object has been gained, i.e., the protection of trade and the merchant service. Germany is also now enabled to enter into commercial and political relations with distant countries, and to make the German flag respected in all parts of the world in a way which would not otherwise have been possible. The Navy will also be able in the future to defend the German coast-line and make the foreign invasion of her coasts an impossibility. It is difficult to forecast the probable development of the German Navy, for the colonies which the country has recently founded and is still founding will increase its task and may lead to the formation of a much larger fleet.
The recognition which the German Navy has lately won on all sides, especially on the part of England, allows of the hope that it will soon be considered as fit to go hand in hand with the German Army. One thing is certain, and that is, that its successes, whether in the hoisting of the national flag in distant parts of the world, or in the more peaceful task of cementing friendly relations with other Powers, are followed with the greatest interest and appreciation by the whole of the German Empire.