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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.

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

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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.

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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should not be, all the same, considered as a very powerful one, for a great many of her ironclads and torpedo-boats are out of date, and not up to the requirements of modern naval warfare.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

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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

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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

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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.

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