Indian station, with cruisers at each of the French possessions.
PACIFIC OCEAN.
1st. Pacific division, cruising on the west coast of South America. 2d. Tahiti station. 3d. New Caledonia station.
These stations require during peace a total of about 75 vessels and 11,000 men.
Germany.
The navies of the different states of the empire are consolidated into a single one under the chief command of Prussia, controlled by an Imperial Ministry. The cabinet representative of the navy is chosen from amongst the General officers of the army, bearing, whilst Minister of Marine, the honorary title of Admiral, and having naval officers for his immediate staff. The Imperial Admiralty is divided into three grand sections: 1st. The Military Section, composed of the Bureaus of Mobilization, Naval and Military Affairs, General Military Affairs, Instruction, Exploration and Coast Defence, Justice, Sanitary and Medical Affairs. 2d. The Technical Section, composed of the Bureaus of Equipment, Docks, Construction of Vessels, Construction of Engines, Construction of Ordnance, Construction of Torpedoes and Torpedo Defence. 3d. The General Section, composed of Bureaus of Constructional Affairs, Budget and Pay, Administration of Garrisons, Indemnities, Judiciary, Hydrography, and Observatory. In addition to these sections there are connected with the Admiralty: 1st. A Commission for the Examination of Officers of Marine Superintendence. 2d. The Administration of the Naval Stations of Kiel, Wilhelmshaven, Dantzic, and Friedrichsort, and the Naval Academy.
The navy is manned by inscription from the maritime districts, the obligation of service commencing on the 1st of January of the year in which the age of 20 is reached. Active service continues for three years, at the end of which time men pass into the First Reserve for a further period of seven years, during which time they are called for exercise twice in four years in time of peace, and on the breaking out of war they are called into active service. At the end of the seventh year in the first reserve they pass into the second reserve for a further period of five years (seewehr). The Second Reserve also includes those who have been subject to service but who have not been called on: these latter are exercised twice in twelve years. Sailors of the merchant marine are authorized to present themselves between the ages of 20 and 24 years. Mariners who have followed the sea for five years have only to serve for one year; those who have been to sea four years serve two years. For tradespeople and mechanics the term of active service may be reduced to one year. The maritime population of Germany is estimated at 45,000 men, of which number 12,000 may be called into service at any time, not counting sailors of the merchant service absent from home.
The cadre of the executive corps of officers is as follows:
- 1 Admiral (Honorary).
- 1 Vice-Admiral.
- 4 Contre-Admiral.
- 23 Capitän zur See.
- 45 Corvetten Capitän.
- 75 Capitän-Lieutenant.
- 148 Lieutenant zur See.
- 128 Unter-Lieutenant zur See.
- 100 See Cadet.
The sailors of the fleet, divided into two divisions, one being stationed at Kiel and the other at Wilhelmshaven, number 821 petty officers and 5621 men. There is also one division of apprentices, numbering 12 petty officers and 400 boys.