There have been no additions of any importance to the fleets of the other European powers since the publication of Sir Edward Reed’s article, and their policy has in no way been changed from that epitomized in the text. The apathy of Germany is inexplicable, and as for the others, there seem, except with Turkey, perhaps, no good reasons why they should strive to create fleets, as they are either too poor to build and support them, or their dangers from maritime attack are not great enough to make a large navy necessary.
Holland has lately launched the Johan Willem Friso, which is the last of six large cruisers, “of which the others are the Atjeh, Tromp, Konigin Emma der Nederlanden, De Ruyter, and Van Speyk.... All these vessels are built of iron and steel, sheathed with wood to four feet above the water-line, and coppered. They are of 3400 tons displacement and of the following dimensions: Length 262 feet 5 inches, beam 39 feet 4 inches, and mean draught 18 feet 4 inches. Their armament is six 6.7-inch Krupp guns (one carried in the bow, one in the stern, and the others in broadside), four 4.72-inch Krupp pieces in broadside, six 37-millimetre revolving cannons, and a supply of Whitehead torpedoes. The engines drive single screws, and have an estimated horse-power of 3000, which has been slightly exceeded by some and not attained by others. The speeds vary from 14.1 knots to 14.7 knots. The coal supply is 400 tons—sufficient for six and three-quarter days’ steaming at full speed or for thirteen days at ten knots.”[48]
Denmark has the Valkyrien, a steel cruiser of 2900 tons, fitted with a good battery and five torpedo-tubes, and designed to develop 5000 horse-power and 17 knots. Her new double-turreted, armored, coast-defence vessel Iver Huitfeldt has developed a maximum speed of 15.6 knots.
From data furnished by First-lieutenant Tasker H. Bliss, U. S. Artillery, the peace strength of the principal Continental nations may be summarized as follows:
| Permanent Establishment. | Cost. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Population. | Army. | Navy. | Total. | Army. | Navy. | Total. |
| Germany | 45,234,000 | 427,274 | 11,109 | 438,383 | $86,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $96,000,000 |
| Russia | 78,000,000 | 760,000 | 29,008 | 789,000 | 146,000,000 | 20,500,000 | 166,500,000 |
| Austria | 38,000,000 | 287,000 | 8,500 | 295,500 | 58,500,000 | 3,500,000 | 62,000,000 |
| Italy | 29,000.000 | 210,373 | 15,055 | 225,428 | 41,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 51,000,000 |
| France | 37,672,000 | 518,642 | 43,235 | 561,877 | 119,250,000 | 41,000,000 | 160,250,000 |
| England | 35,000,000 | 199,000 | 58,000 | 257,000 | 78,000,000 | 53,750,000 | 131,750,000 |
A rough analysis of these figures shows that in strength of army Russia is first, France second, Germany third, Austria fourth, Italy fifth, and England sixth; and that in naval strength England is first, France second, Russia third, Italy fourth, Germany fifth, and Austria sixth. The cost of each nation’s navy is in direct proportion to its strength of personnel; but in armies England, though last in numbers, changes place with Italy, which supports its forces with the least expenditure. It may be added that in total cost England, with next to the smallest force, pays more than Germany, with the third largest in numbers.
The percentage of expenditures is as follows:
| Service per Capita of Population. | Cost per Man. | Taxation per Inhabitant to Support the Peace Establishment. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country. | Army. | Navy. | Total. | Army. | Navy. | |
| Germany | 0.94 | 0.02 | 0.96 | $201.00 | $900.00 | $2.12 |
| Russia | 0.97 | 0.04 | 1.01 | $192.00 | $707.00 | $2.13 |
| Austria | 0.77 | 0.02 | 0.79 | $204.75 | $411.75 | $1.65 |
| Italy | 0.73 | 0.05 | 0.78 | $194.75 | $664.25 | $1.75 |
| France | 1.37 | 0.11 | 1.48 | $230.00 | $931.00 | $4.25 |
| England | 0.57 | 0.16 | 0.73 | $391.50 | $924.75 | $3.76 |
An examination of Lloyd’s Universal Register of Shipping for 1887 shows that the present condition of European navies may be popularly stated in this manner: England has 6 guns capable of penetrating 36 inches of unbacked iron, and 16 others which can penetrate 28 inches of the same material; Italy has 20 guns which can penetrate 33 inches of iron; France has 14 guns which can pierce 27 inches, and 14 others able to penetrate 25 inches of unbacked iron. Russia has 20 guns and Spain 2 which can pierce 24 inches of iron. No other power has any guns capable of equivalent results. In other words, of guns able to penetrate 24 inches of unbacked iron, France has 28, Italy 20, Russia 20, Spain 2, and Great Britain 22.