Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/994

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GERMAN EMPIRE

With regard to oversoa garrisons, Germany maintains about 2,700 men at Kiauchau ; these are marines and sailors, biit native troops are being organised. There is also a colonial force with a special colonial staff, these troops are not included in the army, and they serve under the direct orders of the German Chancellor ; their total establishment is about 340 oHicers, 2,250 German non-commissioned officers and men, and 3,830 native soldiers. The officers and in on-commissioned officers are mostly seconded from the home army.

The normal strength in South-west Africa is about 150 officers and 2,000 other ranks, all German.

There are also about 600 native police, with white officers, mostly in the minor colonies.

III. Navy.

Estimates: — 1912, 22,870,000^. ; 1911, 22,901,700Z. ; 1910, 22,127,740Z. ; 1909, 20,426,780Z.; 1908, 16,9.66,186Z. ; ]907, 13,628,247/.

After the war of 1870-71 the German navy was re-organised, and a Flottengrundu7igs2)lan laid down. By a cabinet order of March 30, 1889, the administration was wholly re-organised. The chief command was separ- ated from the administration, and vested in a naval officer, while the administration was transferred to the Reichsmarineamt, having at its head, under the chancellor, the naval secretary of state. The first of these officials deals generally with the movements of the fleet, and with questions relating to coast defence, training, the efficiency of the -personnel, &c. ; while the imperial arsenals and dockyards, matters more especially concerning the maUriel, clothing, victualling, &c., fall to the department of the secretary of state. The ships of the German navy are divided between the Baltic and North Sea stations. The chief naval establishments are at Kiel on the Baltic and Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal, across the Schleswig-Holstein neck from Kiel to the Elbe, which was opened in the month of June, 1895, facilitates the transference of forces from one base to the other. Danzig is now an effective base also, with a dockyard. In 1906 Cuxhaven and Sonderburg were also selected as naval bases.

The following is a statement of the strength of the German fleet: —

Class

Effective in middle of

1912

1913

1914

Dreadnoughts

13

17

21

Pre-Dreadnought battlesliips

20

20

2C

Old and coast service battlesliips

2-f7

—

—

Armoured cruisers ....

9

9

Protected cruisers ....

34

30

38

Destroyers

129

141

153

Torpedo boats (old) ....

47

47

47

Submarines

16

20

or more

•)

Note. — German ships are usually completed for sea about June each year. Certain ships which have no fighting value are omitted.