An item reported that the Austrian navy expected to have in 1905 9 modern battleships allowing to have a strong coastal defence and to keep order in the territorial waters. Of the 3 divisions over which these battleships were to be divided were 2 divisions completed and for the third one were still three ships on stocks but which were to be completed in 1905; Except for the seven new all ready commissioned cruisers was the keel of two very large 7,400 tons cruisers laid down, Further more was the building of 15 new torpedo boats continued and was within short time to be started with the renewal of the Donau river fleet including two monitors and 5 patrol boats. The renewal of the Austrian navy started in 1882 with the appointment of vice admiral Sternegg as minister. Until his death about 5 years ago he worked at the fleet program needed in his opinion for Austrians defence. According to the Dutch journalist was the size the Austrian battleships and cruisers much larger as the Dutch comparable ships which caused by the fact that the Austrian naval budget was higher as the Dutch.
