THE KAISER AND HIS NAVY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue V, 24 July 1897, Page 156

THE KAISER AND HIS NAVY.

A Berlin correspondent writes :— * The scheme for a great increase of the German Nary has not been abondoned, and efforts to gain support for it are still going on. The Emperor’s statistical tables were sent by his Civil Cabinet to many influential quarters, including the Magistrates of the largest German towns, and now the latter have received His Majesty’s later compilation, with the following remarks, signed “ W.LR., 1897." • “ In 1886 Germany had 27 ships, with 343 guns at her disposal. On board of three flagships sailed three Admirals at the bead of three divisions, to support the acquisition of German colonies, or enforce respect for the German flag in America or in Africa, off Zanzibar, or the Cameroons. In 1896 Germany had 14 ships, with 168 guns, at her disposal. There was no longer any flagship, and the ironelad * Kaiser’ had to be taken from among the line-of battle ships. On board of her sails in Eastern Asia one Admiral, at the head of the only division that can be formed for the protection of German trade. There is no ship in America, and the other stations are occupied by small ‘stationaires.’ The cruiser-frigates and the corvettes were not inferior—nay, some of them were superior —to the ships of the same classes belong-

Ing to other States. Now only four of them comply with modern requirements, and the * Arcana ’ and the * Alexandrine ’ have to be withdrawn shortly, because they have neither a protecting deck nor modern quickfiring guns. Thus the whole cruiser fleet of 1886 has gradually vanished from the list for foreign service, without any replacement, whieh began only last year. The cruiser frigates answer to the present first-class cruisers, and must be replaced by them ; the ship that is to take the plaee of the * Leipzig ’ is the first of the substitutes. The corvettes correspond to the second class cruisers, and five of them are only now being replaced by the * Victoria Louise" class. Before the last corvette is replaced, the present cruisers, ‘Kaiserin,’ ‘Augusta,’ ‘Prinz Wilhelm,* * Irene,’ and * Gefion,* will also be used up by constant service, and will, therefore, have to be replaced. Unless, therefore, more ships are built, and built faster than hitherto, the moment when the few cruisers will be used up by the evergrowing demands npon them, before the reserve ships are ready, and when Germany will be compelled to restore her cruiser fleet at onee by expending a large sum instead of yearly instalments, is not far distant. The first-class cruisers do not exist, and the gap has had to be filled up by three old ironclads, dismissed from the line-of battle fleet as too old. France has 43 cruisers, Russia 18, England 94. * * The dispatch of this circular has made some sensation, and is severely criticised by the Opposition papers.’

Ravages of Time.—Stephen Day was very fond of making high-sounding speeches, sometimes with laughable results. While calling one day upon a neighbour, he was shown a scratched and battered stone pestle which had lately been found in the garden. As it was passed from one to another, some facetious remarks were made in regard to its defaced appearance. One person ventured to suggest that probably the dogs bad chewed it. * Unde ’ Stephen looked stern ; such language applied to this venerable relic seemed to him almost an offence. Patting the pestle reverently with his big right hand, he said, solemnly: * Sir, those are the ravages of the tooth of time.’