Increase of Austrian naval budget needed according to the Dutch newspaper Opregte Haarlemsche Courant dated 2 January 1861

An item dated Vienna December 1861 reported that the commander-in-chief of the Austrian navy archduke Max (1) wrote a paper dealing with the navy which caused quite a lot of rumours. He seriously asked to increase the naval budget necessary to strengthen the navy and to be able to match the Sardinian navy. At least 30.000.000 (Dutch guilders) were needed to add within two years enough ships to obtain a strong navy although there was another major problem, namely lacking sufficient trained. sailors

Note

1. Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine (6 July 1832 Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria-19 June 1867 Cerro de las Campanas, Querétaro, Mexico), emperor of Mexico as Maximilian I 10 April 1864-19 June 1867. In 1854 he becamen commander-in-chief of the Austrian navy.