NETHERLANDS. in the days of sailing vessels the nand• of the Netherlands was a powerful one, but the great cost of modern fighting ships has prevented the Netherlanders, a naturally sea faring race, from maintaining a powerful fleet. The navy is represented in the Cabinet by the Minister of Marine. The administration, presided over by the Minister, consists of a chief (a cap tain) of the general staff, I director of naval construction, 1 director (commander) of the per sonnel. 1 director (captain) of pilotage. 1 di rector (captain) of the hydrographic service. 1 inspector of pay, provisions, and clothing. I medical inspector.
The executive officers are educated at the Royal Natal _kcadeiny at while the en gineers are educated at the special engineer sclusd at Ilellevoetsluis. The naval arsenals are tour in number and located at „\insterdam, Ilelle \Villenisoord, and Fijenoord. There are small stations abroad in Surinam, Cural:ao. Bor neo, Sumatra, Java, and Celebes. 'Flip fleet con sists of 3 small battleships of 49.10 tons (build ing in 1902), 1 battleship of 5400 tons (la(nched 1574). 2 coast-defense ships of 3375 and 2491) tons flannelled 1860 ;Ind 1891), 3 coast defense ships of 3520 tons (launched 1894 ), 13 monitors of 1520 to 2200 tons (launched 1s65-75). 5 armored river gunboats of 352 to 358 tons (launched 1570 79). 1 armored cruiser of 46(10 tons (launched 1892). 6 protected cruisers of 3900 to 403:1 tons (launched 1590-99), 3 cruisers of 3100 tons (launched 1576-82), 1 protected cruiser of 1703 tons (launched 1890), 64 gunboats of 175 to 1298 tons (launched 1574.1900), 5 surveying vessels of 300 to 800 tons. 42 special service receiving ships, school-ships, etc., 39 tor pedo boats of 45 to 90 tons, 3 torpedo boats of 140 tons, :33 torpedo boats of 29 to 37 tons.
on w v. • Ile nary of Norway is entirely from that of Sweden, though, of course, Loth fleets NVOtild he combined in case of \var. \Vith 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, hut the great expense of modern fighting ships pre vents the maintenance of a large naval force, or an attempt to do more titan defend the coast.
The government of the nary is confided to the commanding officer of the nary and the 7.0inister of \larine and Posts. The last-named is an ad ministrative office anti constitutes the ministry proper; both branches have their headquarters at Christiania. The commanding otlioer of the navy is it rear-admiral, :old he is assisted by it captain, while a second captain is stationed at St oekhohn ;is 11.1%;11 aid to the Ring.
The executive officers of the active service and those of the reserve are educated at the royal naval school. Norway pe,5e8w5 lint it single military port. that of Horton. near Christiania. There are five naval establishments, of which that of 1:arljohansvorn at llorten is the only shipbuilding yard; the others at Ilergensund, Fredriksvaern,Iind Christiansmid are naval depots ;Ind supply stations. The Ileet con sists of hair ,mall battleships of 340)) 10 3550 Ilannched , 4 of 1148 to 20000 Ions (launched 1860-72 rebuilt 1595-98), 1 proteeted cruiser of I I I:3 ton, (launched 1591), I Bruiser of 1370 tons (launched 1590), I torpedo gnu vessel of 350 tons (launched wooden erniscrs of loot; and 1010 tons Ilatinehed 1562 sou). 12 gunboats of 190 to 035 tons, several small gunboats, sailing trainine ships, etc.. 10 boats of 90 1011,4 (lalinelled 1597.19011. 21 torpedo boats of 27 to 65 tons I launched 1882 1901), and 6 submarine boats (building in 191121.
fins(.(. The navy of Persia consists of ;In ctnnwl dispatch vessel of 1200 tons (launched 1‘;‘,5 remodeled from merchant steamer).
PFut . Previous to the war with Chile the Peruvian muy was of some but a large sea going monitor was captured by flue Chileans, an old monitor (purchased in the United States) was sunk, and mu armored frigate uas ureckol while chasing a Chilean gunboat. The naval force in 1902 consisted of a wooden cruiser of 1658 tons (purchased in Prance in 1900 —launched 1877). I cruiser of 1700 tons (launched 188I—;t sister to the 1.7. S. S. Topeka), 1 gunboat of 420 tons (launched 1883). 1 small iron cruiser (launched 1891), I screw frigate (training ship), 1 armed transport of 1400 net tons measurement I:nutched 18U3), and several paddle steamers.