DEFENCE
Gl
An account of the ships of the new programme follows the tabular matter. In regard to cruisers, the Powerful and Terrihh (14,200 tons) have proved very successful, and the former is in commission in China. Four first-class cruisers of the Diadem class (11,000 tons) were laid down in 1895, and four others, the Spartiate, Argonaut, Amphitrite, and Ariadne are well advanced. Four armoured cruisers of a new class (programme of 1897-98), the Cressy, Bogue, Aboukir, and Sutlej (12,000 tons) were delayed, but are in hand. Four others are in the programme of 1898-99, two (the Euryalus and Bacchante) being of the Cressy class and two of a superior type. The supplemental programme of July 1898 includes four other like cruisers. Of second-class cruisers, the Arrogant class includes four (one completed and the others well advanced), and the modified Talbot class three cruisers, which have been delayed. In all ninety-six destroyers were to have been completed, or ordered in 1897-98, but there has been some delay. The supplementary programme includes twelve others. The following table shows the effective fighting strength of the British Navy, ships in course of construction or planned being given in separate columns. No uniform classification of the vessels of various navies exists, but the table given is based upon a useful system adopted in the Naval Annual. It should be observed that seven first-class battleships (the
- Admirals ') will soon drop into the second class. In the third
class are included the old battleships which have latterly been counted unsatisfactorily as first-class armoured cruisers. Ineffec- tive vessels we excluded from the table.
Launched Building Jan. 1899 or jirojected Battleships, 1st Class
35 10 ,, 2nd Class . 7 — 3rd Class . 18 — Coast defence ships 14 — Cruisers, Armoured 9 12 ,, 1st Class 30 . ,, 2nd Class 53
3rd Class 42 2 Torpedo gimboats 34 — Torpedo-craft, 1st Class ^ 153 23 ,, 2nd and 3rd Class . 24 —
1 Including 108 "Destroyers." During the year 1898-99, the vessels under construction or
