Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/351

NAVIES. Bureau; (7) Medical Bureau; (8) Chancellerie; (9) Administration of Courts-Martial; (10) Archives.

The naval schools are the naval academy, at Saint Petersburg, naval college (higher course at the naval academy), school of navigation, ordnance, and naval construction at Kronstadt, and marine engineering school. The present plans are to combine all the schools in one establishment. The principal dockyards are the New Admiralty Works at Saint Petersburg, Galernaya Island Yard at Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt arsenal, Nicolayev dockyard, Sebastopol arsenal, Windau dockyard, Libau dockyard, Port Arthur (Liao-tung Peninsula), Vladivostok, Sveaborg, Revel, Archangel, Baku, Batum, Nicolayevsk (Amur), and Kagala (Oxus). The number and displacement of the vessels of the fleet are given in the table. The transport service between Russia and Eastern Siberia is carried on by the Russian Volunteer Fleet, which receives a large subsidy from the Russian Government. It consists of 18 steamers of 7650 to 12,000 tons (launched 1891-1900), and 1 of 2700 tons (launched 1895). The vessels of the Black Sea Steam Navigation Company, 12 in number, mostly of about 2400 tons, are fitted to receive armaments and act as auxiliary cruisers or transports in time of war.

The naval force of this little republic consists of 1 small gunboat of 322 tons (launched 1894), 1 cruiser of 1000 tons (launched 1896), 1 cruiser of about 1000 tons (rebuilt in 1896-97).

The navy of this little Bornean State consists of three small gunboats of 118 to 300 tons (launched 1875-84).

The navy of Siam consists of 1 protected cruiser of 2500 tons, 8 gunboats of 260 to 800 tons, 1 old floating battery of 950 tons, 1 old depot ship of 545 tons, 6 dispatch vessels of 100 to 700 tons, 1 torpedo boat of 45 tons (launched 1888), and 43 small steamers for river and coast service.

The navy of Spain received a serious setback in the Spanish-American War, losing about half the fleet. During 1901 the navy was reorganized, and soon after it was proposed to construct a new and powerful fleet of 8 battleships of 12,000 tons, 4 cruisers of 8000 tons, and a limited number of smaller cruisers and torpedo vessels. All the old vessels not actually needed have been or are to be sold, the arsenals and naval establishments are being reorganized, and other improvements are contemplated. It is hoped by these means so to reduce the unnecessary expenses that a fine fleet can gradually be built and maintained without adding greatly to the expenses of the Government. The navy is presided over by a Minister of Marine, formerly a naval officer, but the incumbent in 1902 was a civil official. He is assisted by a council of 9 persons, of whom 5 are officers of the navy, 1 is a Senator, 1 a Deputy of the Cortes, 1 an inspector-general of engineers, and 1 a field marshal of artillery. The central administration consists of: (1) Section of Personnel; (2) Section of Equipment; (3) Section of Navigation and Maritime Industries; (4) Section of Naval Construction; (5) Section of Naval Ordnance; (6) Section of Accounts; (7) Section of Administrative Affairs. The reorganization of the navy in progress in 1902 may effect considerable changes in these arrangements. The principal dockyards

are located at Ferrol, Cadiz (La Carraea), Trubia (army gun-factory where naval guns are made), Bilbao, and Cartagena. There are, in addition, several naval stations and supply depots. The naval school is located on the old wooden frigate Asturias. All executive officers are required to pass through the school; the course is three years, after which the cadets serve as midshipmen for further instruction. The fleet in 1902 consisted of 1 battleship of 9900 tons (launched 1887—partly rebuilt 1897-98 and 1900-01), 2 old battleships of 7000 tons (launched 1863-65—rebuilt as armored cruisers 1897-98), 1 armored cruiser of 9090 tons (launched 1895), 3 armored cruisers of 7000 tons (launched 1890-1900), 1 protected cruiser of 5372 tons (building in 1902), 2 protected cruisers of 5000 tons (launched 1891-92), 2 protected cruisers of 1875 and 2030 tons (launched 1898-1900), 1 small protected cruiser of 1040 tons (launched 1890), 2 cruisers of 3090 and 3342 tons (launched 1879-87), 3 cruisers of 1152 tons (launched 1885-88), 10 torpedo gunboats of 570 to 830 tons (launched 1889-97), 1 torpedo-boat destroyer of 386 tons (launched 1886), 4 torpedo-boat destroyers of 370 to 400 tons (launched 1896-97), 1 armed yacht of 1800 tons (purchased 1898), 7 training ships of 800 to 4000 tons, 1 transport of 2000 tons, 42 gunboats of 37 to 525 tons (launched 1877-95), 16 torpedo boats of 65 to 108 tons (launched 1885-1901).

The navy of Sweden has been very much increased during the last fifteen years, and now possesses many effective coast-defense ships. The navy is presided over by a Minister of Marine with headquarters at Stockholm; the Minister is either a naval officer or civilian. The department comprises four bureaus, viz.: (a) The Cabinet of the Minister: (b) The Bureau of Personnel; (c) The Naval Staff; (d) The Bureau of Material. The school for executive officers (there are no marine engineer officers in the navy) is located at Stockholm; the full course is six years.

There are two naval arsenals, one at Stockholm and one at Karlskrona. The fleet consists of 4 small battleships of 3650 tons (building in 1902), 7 small battleships of 3100 to 3450 tons (launched 1886-98), 4 single-turret monitors of 1500 to 1580 tons (launched 1865-75—reconstructed 1898-1902). 9 very small single-turret monitors of 240 to 460 tons (launched 1869-76—nearly all recently rebuilt), 3 cruisers of 1530 to 2000 tons (launched 1870-86), 7 torpedo gunboats of 670 tons (launched 1896-99), 15 gunboats of 190 to 640 tons (launched 1861-84), 12 miscellaneous vessels, 12 vessels of 170 to 2858 tons, used as school-ships, training ships, and floating barracks, 1 torpedo-boat destroyer of 320 tons (building in 1902), 5 torpedo boats of 44 to 85 tons (building), 15 torpedo boats of 60 to 85 tons (launched 1884-1900), and 13 second-class boats of 34 to 44 tons (launched 1882-1902).

The reduction of revenue entailed by the Turco-Russian War of 1877-78 caused Turkey to let her navy become wholly ineffective for purposes of war. About 1890 it was decided to rebuild some of the most available vessels of the fleet, and now all the old ships have either been rebuilt or are in process of reconstruction. The Navy Department, however, needs reconstruction more than the ships, for so long as present