The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-28 00:00:00

WAR NAVIES OF FRANCE AND PRUSSIA.

France has at the present moment about sixty
ironclads, including floating batteries, but the
strength of this fleet is not in proportion to its size.
The Rochambeau, which the French Government
purchased in America, iv a ram, carries its guns
broadside, and lias a burden of 6,090 tons. There
are also four other powerful rams, the Taurean,
the Belier, the Cerbere, and the Boule Dog, each
carrying one gun of twenty tons, and
covered with a cylindrical ball-proof dome.
They have a speed of about fourteen
knots. Tho Magenta and Solferino are large but old-
fashioned ironclads; the Gloire, Invincible, and Nor-
maudie are smaller ; and the Couronne, although
better plated than those already mentioned, in respect
of ordnance is ,on a par with them. In the nest
place stand the vessels built on a uniform system,
carrying 36 guns, and of 900 horse-power. The
Belliqueuse stands by itself, and carries ten 00-
pounder guns. The St. Jean d'Acre and the
Atlanta are turret vessels on a modified form,
and there are also four smaller ships of a similar
build. For the protection of the coasts France has
27 floating batteries and four coastguard vessels,
carrying heavy guns, but having no great speed.
Prussia has been very energetic during the last few
years, and both in the Baltic and in the North Seas
her naval power has been well developed. She has
six completed ironclads, and one on the stocks. The
King William, said to be the finest of its
class in the world, was built originally, for the
Turkish Government, offered to this country, and
finally purchased by Prussia. The Friedricli Karl
and Kroll Prinz are broadside vessels, and the
Arminius and Adalbert are turret-ships. Prussia
has also 33 wooden vessels of various sizes. It will
be seen, however, that Prussia is weaker than France,
as far as ships are concerned; but when it is stated
that in time of war France can raise 170,000 sailors,
and Prussia has only 4,030, the contrast is made still
greater.

THE RUSSIAN PRESS ON THE WAR.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Eastern
Budget says that the whole of the national press has
declared so strongly against Prussia, that it will be
hardly possible for the Government to take the side
of that Power in the war. The semi-official Goloss
at one time wavered, but it now joins the others in
abusing Prussia. It has even gone so far as to assert
that the interests of Russia demand that - France
shall be victorious in the ensuing contest. Russia
is advised to keep neutral, since she can
only gain by the ex!iaustion of the other
Powers. The Russian Government, it is argued,
can disregard the Treaty of Paris with-
out being compelled to draw the sword. The
Moscow Gazette considers that the withholding of
war telegrams from the Russian papers was an
offence which calls for strict inquiry, and spews how
injurious it is for Russia to depend on the Prussian au-
thorities for her telegraphic and postal intelligence. The
Government itself seems disposed to maintain the
strictest neutrality, but it is anxious to be prepared
for emergencies. The number of troops in Poland
is to be increased to 200,000. This measure is calcu-
lated to prevent an insurrection in Russian Poland,
and also to maintain order in Posen, in the event of
any disturbances taking place.

7HE CONTINENT.

In one of the comic periodicals, this week, there is
a very excellently drawn cartoon, representiii the
rapid exodus of all the. English tourists Irom he
Rhine territories. The mitrailleuse is represented in
the back ground, and the picture seems to denote
that it is the alarm and actual inconveniences of en-
joying comfort and scenery, arising from wartai e, that
arehunting the people away. There is, however, another
consideration,not referred to in the cartoon, but which
undoubtedly ought to be taken into account, if it is
not so already, by all English travellers, not only in
the neighbourhood of the Rhine, but also in any por-
tion of France or Germany. We refer to the fOrfei-
Wl.° of all value in life assurance policies by resi-
dents in countries in which the war is car-
ried on. Some English companies frame the regu-