Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/350

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NAVIES.
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NAVIES.

The executive officers are educated at the Royal Naval Academy at Willemsoord, while the engineers are educated at the special engineer school at Hellevoetsluis. The naval arsenals are four in number and located at Amsterdam, Hellevoetsluis, Willemsoord, and Fijenoord. There are small stations abroad in Surinam, Curaçao, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Celebes. The fleet consists of 3 small battleships of 4950 tons (building in 1902), 1 battleship of 5400 tons (launched 1874), 2 coast-defense ships of 3375 and 2490 tons (launched 1866 and 1891), 3 coast-defense ships of 3520 tons (launched 1894), 13 monitors of 1520 to 2200 tons (launched 1868-78), 5 armored river gunboats of 352 to 388 tons (launched 1870-79), 1 armored cruiser of 4600 tons (launched 1892), protected cruisers of 3900 to 4033 tons (launched 1896-99), 3 cruisers of 3400 tons (launched 1876-82), 1 protected cruiser of 1703 tons (launched 1890), 64 gunboats of 175 to 1298 tons (launched 1874-1900), 5 surveying vessels of 300 to 800 tons, 42 special service vessels, receiving ships, school-ships, etc., 39 torpedo boats of 45 to 90 tons, 3 torpedo boats of 140 tons, 33 torpedo boats of 29 to 37 tons.

Norway. The navy of Norway is entirely separate from that of Sweden, though, of course, both fleets would be combined in case of war. With the possible exception of that of Sweden or Denmark, the Norwegian navy is the oldest in Europe. In proportion to its population, Norway has a greater mercantile marine and furnishes more mariners than any other country, but the great expense of modern fighting ships prevents the maintenance of a large naval force, or an attempt to do more than defend the coast. The government of the navy is confided to the commanding officer of the navy and the Minister of Marine and Posts. The last-named is an administrative office and constitutes the ministry proper; both branches have their headquarters at Christiania. The commanding officer of the navy is a rear-admiral, and he is assisted by a captain, while a second captain is stationed at Stockholm as naval aid to the King.

The executive officers of the active service and those of the reserve are educated at the royal naval school. Norway possesses but a single military port, that of Horten, near Christiania. There are five naval establishments, of which that of Karljohansvorn at Horten is the only shipbuilding yard; the others at Bergensund, Trondhjem, Fredriksvaern, and Christiansund are naval depots and supply stations. The fleet consists of four small battleships of 3400 to 3850 tons (launched 1896-99), 4 monitors of 1448 to 2000 tons (launched 1866-72—rebuilt 1895-98), 1 protected cruiser of 1113 tons (launched 1891), 1 cruiser of 1370 tons (launched 1896), 1 torpedo gun vessel of 380 tons (launched 1896), 2 wooden cruisers of 1006 and 1610 tons (launched 1862-80), 12 gunboats of 190 to 635 tons, several small gunboats, sailing training ships, etc., 10 torpedo boats of 90 tons (launched 1897-1901), 21 torpedo boats of 27 to 65 tons (launched 1882-1901), and 6 submarine boats (building in 1902).

Persia. The nay of Persia consists of an armed dispatch vessel of 1200 tuns (launched 1885—remodeled from merchant steamer).

Peru. Previous to the war with Chile the Peruvian navy was of some importance, but a large sea-going monitor was captured by the Chileans, an old mouitor (purchased in the United Stales) was sunk, and an armorcil frigate was wrecked while chasing a Chilean gunboat. The naval force in 1902 consisted of a wooden cruiser of 1658 tons (purchased in France in 1900—launched 1877), 1 cruiser of 1700 tons (launched 1881—a sister to the U. S. S. Topeka), 1 gunboat of 420 tons (launched 1883), 1 small iron cruiser (launched 1891), 1 screw frigate (training ship), 1 armed transport of 1400 net tons measurement (launched 1863), and several paddle steamers.

Portugal. From time to time plans have been made for increasing the strength of the Portuguese fleet, but aside from an occasional cruiser the financial resources of the country have been unable to meet the demands of the naval programme. The Navy Department forms part of the Ministry of the Marine and Colonies. It is presided over by a vice-admiral with the title of director-general, and consists of the divisions of (a) personnel and (b) material. The only naval arsenal is at Lisbon, where is also located the naval college, a sort of polytechnic institute in which all the officers of the navy are educated—even the medical officers having a final course there. The fleet consists of 1 old armored coast-defense ship of 2480 tons (launched 1875), 1 protected cruiser of 4280 tons (launched 1898), 2 protected cruisers of 1800 tons (launched 1898), 2 cruisers of 1600 and 1765 tons (launched 1896-99), 4 small cruisers of 1110 to 1429 tons (launched 1864-84), 21 gunboats of 160 to 729 tons (launched 1873-1902), 25 river gunboats of 34 to 300 tons (launched 1888-1902), 1 transport of 3000 tons, 3 training ships, a number of small craft, 1 armed royal yacht of 950 tons (launched 1899), and 11 torpedo boats of 31 to 60 tons (launched 1880-93).

Rumania. The Navy Department in Rumania is a branch of the Ministry of War. The officers hold military titles and are overshadowed by the army in every way. There is a naval school for the instruction of petty officers, but a military education is apparently sufficient for the higher officers. There is a small navy yard at Galatz at which gunboats are occasionally built. The fleet consists of 1 protected cruiser of 1325 tons (launched 1887), 4 gunboats of 104 to 400 tons (launched 1862-86), 1 armed yacht of 350 tons, torpedo boats of 55 tons (launched 1888-95), 8 second class torpedo boats and launches of 10 to 32 tons (launched 1882-95), and 12 gunboats and coastguard vessels of 45 to 110 tons (launched 1873-93).

Russia. The Russian navy really dates from the time of Peter the Great, though the dwellers in the lands now belonging to Russia along the shores of the Baltic have been seafaring people from time immemorial. The navy and Navy Department are presided over by the general admiral, who is always one of the Imperial family. He has under his orders an Under-Secretary of State having the rank of vice-minister and called the director of the Ministry. The general admiral is assisted and advised by a board of admiralty consisting of 4 admirals, 5 vice (or rear) admirals, and 1 lieutenant-general of naval corps. The Minister of Marine or director of the Ministry is an admiral appointed by the Emperor. The subdivisions of the Ministry are: (1) General Staff; (2) Chief Naval Judicial Court; (3) Material and Supplies; (4) Technical Committee; (5) Scientific Committee; (6) Hydrographic