A balance in the Swedish public treasury made it possible to expend more money
for strengthening the national defence. The annual budget for 1897 mentioned
the first half of 11,800,000 crowns for the building of 2 ironclads, 4 torpedo
cruisers and 6 torpedo boats. Another Dutch newspaper the Vlissingse Courant
dated 23 October of the same year mentioned a budget of 10,000,000 for the
building of one ironclad and some cruisers and torpedo boats.
