The war-fleet of the Empire, which embraces all that had been constructed by Prussia since 1848, consisted in June, 1870, of 38 steamers and 7 sailing vessels, with 42,415 tonnage, and 480 guns.
| Horse- power. | Guns. | Tonnage. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Iron-clads, | 3,700 | 62 | 15,846 |
| 9 Steam Frigates and Corvettes, | 3,200 | 200 | 14,210 |
| 8 Steam First class Gunboats, | 640 | 24 | 5,858 |
| 14 Steam Second “ “ | 840 | 28 | 5,858 |
| 1 Steam Yacht, | 160 | 2 | 445 |
| 2 Paddle-Steamer Corvettes, | 600 | 13 | 1,750 |
| 3 Frigates (sailing vessels), | . . | 114 | 3,736 |
| 4 Brigs, “ | . . | 46 | 1,927 |
The German navy was officered and manned by 1 admiral, 1 vice-admiral, 1 rear-admiral, 27 captains and 217 lieutenants, and 3,283 seamen and boys, besides 2,760 in the marine corps. The sailors of the fleet and the marine corps are recruited by conscription, from the seafaring population, which numbers 80,000.
The provision for naval expenditure in 1870, was for—
| Ministry of Marine, | 81,250 | thalers. |
| Administration officers, | 65,557 | “ |
| Pay of seamen and marines, | 1,086,990 | “ |
| Repairs of ships, | 890,000 | “ |
| Marine hospitals, | 71,820 | “ |
| War material, | 1,221,317 | “ |
| Miscellaneous, | 179,796 | “ |
| Total ordinary expenses, | 3,596,730 | “ |
| Extraordinary expenditure, | 4,403,460 | “ |
| Grand total, | 8,000,190 | “ |
The artificial harbor and dry-docks at Wilhelmshaven, in the Bay of Jade, on the North Sea, which was opened by the King of Prussia in June, 1869, have cost over $10,000,000.
The system of professional training for officers of the Imperial Navy is not yet matured. The Naval School at Kiel is still recognized. Aspirants enter as naval cadets after passing an examination equivalent to the requirements of a gymnasial maturity certificate, which in general education is superior to the requirements of graduation of either our Naval or Military Academy. Before entering on their professional studies, the cadet is first sent on a cruise to test his aptitude for sea-service. He then studies eight months at school and one year at sea, to pass as midshipman; and one year more at school, and three years at sea, to become sub-lieutenant.
MARINE ACADEMY AT KIEL.
The German Marine Academy established in 1872, at Kiel, is designed not for the education of cadets, but for the professional training and improvement of officers already in the naval service of the empire—and is of the same character as the Staff School of Berlin for officers of the army. Those only will be received as pupils, whose conduct and talents seem to qualify them for superior scientific attainments, and, hereafter, for the filling of the most important posts. These officer-pupils will be required to give proofs of their diligence and progress by the production, from time to time, of theses and dissertations on scientific subjects given to them by the professors. At the same time, all naval officers will be permitted to attend the courses of instruction when their professional duties do not call them away.