Navies of the world

by Edward W. Very

The Corps of Marine Infantry is recruited from the inscription in the same manner as the army. The headquarters are at Naples. This corps is made up of three battalions (one for each department), and the service is divided between the fleet and the dock-yards. There is no marine artillery in the Italian Navy.

The effective cadre of the Italian Navy is 1084 officers and 14,200 men, 90 officers of Marine Infantry and 3000 men. In comparison with the number of petty officers and men, there are fewer officers in this navy than in any in the world. The Italians have no cruising squadrons; single vessels do the foreign service, while the home service is confined to a single large squadron of evolutions.

Japan.

The navy is represented in the Council of State by a Minister and two Vice-Ministers, the central administration being carried on by a department constructed much in the same manner as in most European countries. The general administration is at present also almost entirely directed by the Navy Department. There is but one dock-yard at present completed and in operation, that of Yokoska in the Bay of Yeddo, in connection with which there is quite an extensive foundry at Yokohama.

At Nagasaki, although there is no especial dock-yard, there are repair-shops, a marine railway, and a partially completed dry-dock. At Kobi there are repair-shops, and an attempt has been made to establish a dock-yard at Tokio, but the shallow approaches render it of but little importance. Connected with the central administration there is a Hydrographic Office, Observatory, Naval School, and schools of instruction for Marine Infantry and Artillery. At present the navy is manned entirely from volunteer enlistment, but a system of inscription is being perfected by which every person following a maritime trade will be liable for service between the ages of 18 and 45. The officers heretofore have for the greater part been educated in foreign naval schools, but at present the Naval Academy at Tokio is fully equal to the task of keeping the cadre full. This Naval School is modelled after the general European plan, the course being four years. Officers, as a rule, are appointed from the Noble class. The cadre of the navy at present is 300 officers, 5138 men, and 113 cadets. The grades and corps correspond closely with those of foreign powers. But very few foreign officers are now employed in the naval service, none at all in the fleet, their duties being confined to instructional and yard superintendence.

As yet the Japanese have not instituted any squadron service whatever, keeping nearly every vessel of their fleet in constant commission for instructional service. It is the intention, however, to establish both home and foreign squadron service as soon as the naval development will permit it to be done. The cadre of the Japanese Navy is 1180 officers and 4270 men.

Norway and Sweden.

The navies of Norway and Sweden are distinct services, each having its own complete organization and administration. The Norwegian Navy is represented in the Cabinet by a Rear-Admiral, Chief of the Marine Department, who is assisted by a second Rear-Admiral, Chief of Staff. The central control at Stockholm is divided into three main sections, with Controllers at their heads, and subdivided into bureaus. The general administration is divided in control between two dock-yards, Christiania and Stockholm. There is also a Naval Academy, Hydrographic Office, and Observatory.

The Swedish Navy is represented in the Cabinet by a Minister of Marine, the central control having two main divisions, Chancellery and Command. There is in addition a Commander-in-Chief of Personnel, a Military Department, Construction Department, Commissariat Department, Pilotage Department, Naval School, and Hydrographic Office. The general administration is divided between the two naval stations of Carlskrona and Stockholm.

The personnel of both navies is recruited by voluntary enlistment, there being a special arrangement for conscription, in case of war in the maritime districts, of all persons between the ages of 22 and 35 years.