launched at Chiswick on January 22 and March 6, respectively. The dimensions, according to the Army and Navy Gazette, are: Length, 155 feet; beam, 17 feet; draft aft, 8.4 feet; displacement (Naval Annual), 178 tons. The I. H. P. of the machinery is estimated at 2800 and the required speed is 25 knots. The armament will consist of three torpedo tubes and three 3-pounders.

LEE: TRIAL, DIMENSIONS, ETC.-This torpedo-boat destroyer, recently completed, has finished her trials successfully. The mean of four runs over the measured mile was 30.11 knots. The other details are: Draft of water forward, 5.37 feet; aft, 8.9 feet; steam pressure at boilers, 249 pounds; vacuum, starboard, 23.3; port, 23.1; revolutions, starboard, 380.7; port, 380.4; mean I. H. P., starboard, 3382; port, 3193; total, 6575. The reported dimensions of the Lee are not in agreement, but the following are probably correct, or nearly so: Length, 210 feet; beam, 21 feet; mean draught, 7.2 feet; displacement, 350 tons. She will carry the same armament as the Syren, Greyhound, etc.

MYRMIDON: TRIALS.-The Myrmidon is a sister ship to the Syren, already described, and was built by the Palmer Company at Jarrow. She had her preliminary trials on February 7 when the results were: I. H. P., 6623; revolutions, 379.5; speed, 30.13. On the official 3-hour trial, which took place February 12, the following results were obtained: I. H. P., 6303; revolutions, 377; speed, 30.23 knots. The mean of six runs over the measured mile was 30.52 knots.

SYBILLE: WRECKED.-The second-class protected cruiser Sybille, of 3400 tons and 19 knots speed, launched in 1890, was wrecked in Lambert Bay, Cape Colony, January 16, 1901. The ship is a total loss but the crew and officers were all saved.

GREECE.

New Construction Proposed.—A bill establishing a special fund for the increase of the navy was introduced into the Greek parliament, but has not, so far as can be learned, been passed. The measure is much criticised by the Atheniar. papers, some of which declare that no money will be voted for military expenditure while the army and navy are controlled by the persons principally responsible for the disasters of 1897.

ITALY.

ESTIMATES FOR 1901-1902.-The estimates of naval expenditure for 1901-02, presented by the Minister of Marine to the Italian parliament, have not yet been voted; or, at least, no report of this has so far reached the compiler. The estimates call for a total expenditure of 115,277,800 lire ($22,248,615.40-1 lira = $0.193), of which 11,540,646 lire is for the merchant marine and 1,374,540 lire for extraordinary expenses. The sum allotted to the navy is 2,868,451 lire in excess of that voted last year, while that for the merchant marine is 2,695,100 lire less.

NAVAL PROGRAM, 1901-1904.-The Minister of Marine has presented a bill providing that from 1901 to 1904 an extraordinary credit of eight million lire will be devoted to new construction in addition to the provisions of the ordinary budget. During these four years the sums allotted to new construction are: 24,500,000 lire for 1901, and 24,000,000 lire for the other three years. The number of permanent workmen in the government yards is not to exceed 12,000; in case of urgent necessity others may be taken on as temporary laborers.

PERSONNEL: LIST OF OFFICERS.-A new decree fixes the number of officers as follows: I admiral, 7 vice-admirals, 14 rear-admirals, 58 captains, 160 enseignes de vaisseau, and 110 midshipmen. The other lists remain as before.

VITTORIO EMANUELE III, REGINA ELENA: DESCRIPTION.-These two new battleships are to be laid down this year in government yards, the Vittorio Emanuele III at Spezia and the Regina Elena at Castellamare. These were designed as sister ships, though it is rumored that the Regina Elena will carry three 12-inch guns, have slightly less coal capacity, and differ a very little in dimensions. There are strong reasons for doubting the correctness of this rumor, but no official details are at hand to definitely contradict it. The particulars which are given below are those of the original design and they are certainly true for the Vittorio Emanuele III. These ships have very moderate freeboard aft-probably about 12 feet and about 21 feet forward. The superstructure extends from the bow to a short distance forward of the after 12-inch turret; but it is only the full width of the ship for a short distance from the stem and between the forward and after 8-inch turrets. Elsewhere it is cut away to give emplacements for the 8-inch turrets, or to permit fire directly ahead from the forward 8-inch guns. There are three smokepipes and two pole masts without military tops. The principal details are:

Armament.-Two 12-inch guns in turrets, one forward on the upper deck and one aft on the main deck. Twelve 8-inch guns in pairs in six turrets: two each side on main deck about 140 feet apart, and one each side on upper deck about halfway between the lower ones. Twelve 3-inch, of which eight are in the superstructure, four each side, between the 8-inch turrets. Twelve 3-pounders. Two above-water torpedo tubes, protected by armor, and two submerged tubes.

Protection.-Complete water-line belt 9.8 inches thick amidships and 3.9 inches at the ends. Side armor above belt, 5.9 inches. Thwartship bulkheads, 7.9 inches. Turrets of 12-inch guns, 6 inches; barbette towers, 7.9 inches. Turrets of 8-inch guns, 5.9 inches. Conning-tower, 9.8 inches. Signal tower, 1.96 inches. Protective deck, 2.9 inches on the slopes. All armor is to be Terni special, face-hardened.

Motive power.-Twin-screw engines. Water-tube boilers. Estimated I. H. P. of machinery, 20,000. Speed, 21.5 to 22 knots. Coal supply at load draft, 1000 tons; total capacity, 2000 tons. Radius of action, 10,000

miles at 10 knots.

Dimensions.-Length between perpendiculars, 434.9 feet; length over all, 474 feet; beam, 73.5 feet; draft, 25.8 feet; displacement, 12,625 tons (metric). GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI, VARESE: TRIALS, DESCRIPTION.-The Garibaldi, which is fitted with Niclausse water tube boilers, started on her preliminary trials July 12, 1900, but they were brought to an abrupt close by a distressing accident. Two of her boilers exploded within a few minutes of one another, killing one fireman instantly and badly burning and scalding two others. The cause of the disaster is unknown. The boilers were supposed to be in good order at the time. An inquiry into the causes of the explosion was ordered but no reports of the findings have been published so far as known to the compiler. After repairs and some alterations the Garibaldi completed her trials successfully. The results were as follows:

All boilers were in use during both trials. The blowers were running during the natural draft trial but the fire rooms were not closed. The speed would have been greater if the bottom had been clean and the weather conditions more favorable.

The Varese, which is fitted with Belleville boilers, has also completed her trials, which passed off without stoppage or accident. The particulars are as follows:

The ship came out of dock clean and freshly painted the morning of her natural draft trial. At the time of her forced draft trial she had been lying in the fitting out basin for nearly forty days. All boilers were in use at both trials. During the natural draft trials the blowers were running but the fire rooms were not closed.

The general appearance and arrangement of the Varese and Garibaldi class are similar to those of the Cristobal Colon. The midship superstructure extends between the barbettes of the heavier guns. The two smokepipes are 6.5 feet in diameter, extending 72 feet above the grate bars, are wide apart, and in the forward and after ends of the superstructure. One military mast placed amidships carries a large oblong top with its greatest diameter athwartships. Electrical power is ued for training the gun-houses, for ventilating engines, ammunition hoists, heating in pantry, lighting, etc. The hull is of steel without sheathing, divided into 250 water-tight compartments, of which 44 are in the double bottom.

Armament.—One 10-inch gun in a revolving gun-house over a barbette tower on the center line forward. Two 8-inch guns in a revolving gunhouse over a barbette tower on the center line aft. Fourteen 6-inch guns: ten in central battery, five each side on gun deck; four on main deck in corners of superstructure. Ten 12-pounders: three on each side on main deck in superstructure; two each side on gun deck, one pair forward, and one pair aft. Six 3-pounders: four on the bridges; two in the top. Two machine guns. Four 17.7-inch torpedo tubes.