The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-21

The Able yettot has his followers. This sagscious
man having long waited for certain memoirs promised
him respecting siege Of which be was 10 give
cont Of bis Histories and becoming impatient.
The description patty according 10 The Information
be had received. and partly from imagination. The me
ois, however, al length arriving, the Able said "
am cory for Tiny ssge is finished" IL 10 with WI.
ters nautical matters that tie accusation com.
monty rests We bsvs few battles The accurate.
~ described and In respect 10 The naval armamenis OF
Ralons, immune cradle and conflicting opinions respecting
the relative efficiency Of msel and prsonna taken ~
eoanexien with the geographical position and political
character Of the nations which thee per,anec nave
long entertained if they have not very well Instructed
More fortunate than the Able verto. In taking up ger
era review Of the French navy, we are happy TO nave
been nut in possession beforehand OF the results OF IN
vestisHions Of the French naval conlmssion-a body
Dosssnsux no executive authority. but concerning seii
with INQUIRIES and recommendations respecting us
force Hs orgaaizati0n, and The proper basis OF is
future DEVELOPMENT. he internal dscords and rev.
olnfors that n sixty years have weakened France,
have affected but indferenily her maritime strength
Forming st all times her security, inspiring conn
dence under all exigencier, these struggles nave not
sutced 10 allow any internal cause OF debility reaching
10 her naval force. The feet OF ne-ol-bae ships has
never since the first French revolution, had the same
number Of vessels but this fact rather shows reliance
lesser vessels on the capacity and power OF steam raas
sorts than any decreased capabihty for maritime war
fare. " WEE tIt 0F'
In l7ss France had IS ships the line she has
% sAosi and 22 building. in addition to ships.ofthc
line provided with steam power. The application oil
steam 10 naval vessels AS the basis oil their efficiency
the extraordinary efforts and expenditure now being
made in France realize this purpose. hardly allow
mere numerical results supply correct notion il 10
very well known tat sailing vessels Tor the conveyance
AZ troops between France and her African possessions
have long been abandoned that s,eam-p propelled rans
pors, carving as many as a thousand men with their
munitions and baggage. are to be seen plying be-
tween Tonon and Agiers. max ing the passage IN forty
hours Then, in this matter OF comparative efficiency,
regard must be had 10 the personnd Whilst the man
ming Of Tho war ships Of England would create com.
uercis panic in that country. France commands the
ready services of less than hundred thousand men,
perfectly we'll trained and composing her mafl'me pop
uia,ion in which the fishermen on her rivers
In whatever part OF The globe distributed, The services OF
French sailors are within her reach lew weeks
would suffice 10 triple her present force afoat, and all
the ships N her ports and arsenais might be
fully manned in as many months This results from her
system OF regisra,ion-n shot, from maritime con-
scripton, by which there few men OF her seaiaTng
population who have not passed time on board her
vessels Of State Special privileges accompany the en-
rolnent and service. This mode OF raising men,"
says NJ de Languinas "fnds them wherever they are.
whether home any por OF France TO which they
may repair So, France al whatever injury 10 trade and
navigation. is sure, like Russia, OF lis OF The effect
i've total Of 1890 individuals composing The available
muster roll, according TO the last Official summary. 374i
were captains OF merchant vessels 1877 pilots, 4o ,3ol
boys, 1895, dock yard worknen. Amids, varying
Inmates, the following statement OF the number oil
sells France could pu, 10 with those now building,
may be regarded a safe estimate
SAILING rLEEr.--Shps-ol-th Incline afoat, "a build
ing % triga,es sfoai IS building Isl afoar,
80; building briggs ahoat A building, II transports.
80; ligh, VESSELS so. Anoai, 22i budIng So Total,
277.
STEAM yLEET-Ships-of the-line a; ste frgates OF
$50 10 $50 horsepower 2li steam corvettss OF 400 to
22o horse 2a aviso OF 100 TO 40 horse power
81. Total, 1os ta taNa& aa
VESSELS WITH AUXILIARY PRoPELLEKs.Ships-o of The.
line Of 100 gum, do. OF 90 guns, q iriga,e OF 40
guns =; corvetles, 2; aysos l. Total, 4. Grand TO-
ts 392 In the last yesr France has launched
dozen ships Cftbe line. and OF ships course OF
constr lar advanced OF the ships SET down
sfraf. number being fitted viii screw propeers
We had occasion to complain OF the delay in the con.
s,rueton and launching OF some Of our own national
vessss but there 10 the Louis XIV" the keel of which
wAsish Al Rocheor ia 1911. not set complete and he
"Fhurus,' al the station that. after quarter OF
cenuy. haa not had dip in salt Ii is proposed
thai two aesof battle ships shall bcaunched annually tor
seven or eight year,, thai 10 gales and 80 steam
vettss sAsll be built together and that IL ne battle
ship. several fxstes and ~ cotvees shall be adapted
ioaaxlisy The heavy drauxh demanded by this
Contemplated increase and these improvements susges,
what aPpsan physical imprsclieab,liy. The whole
stock OF wood is stated nj eight years umpon ma
king no allowance for this extraordinary demand.
Then in an s5undsn, supply and good quality Of coal
France would appear be deficient. Her philosophers
would do aosod servics by suggesting an adaptation Of
furnace TO available quality. To have supply OF GOOD
COAL. says u, Msstis"is question OF existence and
non-sxistsnce 10 navy And for The spplics-
lion Of maritime warfare. Success is regarded as de-
pendent frigAiss and fngatss with auxiliary
scrws Thee members Of the commission would
have "a sui6e,eat number OF cruisers 10 display the
French Anslat ell tines in all OF the globe 10 pro-
tsci Fssach commerce everywhere and on declaration OF
war with England stnke her possessions every where
and 81 once" Rapid and desaltory Operations are in
favor. though. for this matter, the steam frgxes on
which 20 much reliance is placed not yet bult A
maximum OF velocity is determined 10 be superior to a
maximum OF force, That large vessels are an effect
i've and economical application OF strength is doubted
One member declafes that. In the present OF
cal science, IL 10 impossible combine in the hig
degrees, graf iotce OF armament with great swift.
ness Of motion and great stores for cruise since Oh
OF these rcqsres such amount OF space aud tonnage
"A to bs incompatible with the others. He even thinks
that would be TO the disadvantage OF France this
problem could he solved, because, in that case,
would retain oil her relative superiority in The oil
maritime warfare. Force" continues NJ Mssiiat /" IL
OF use only in ptesencs OF enemy powerfully armed
velocity enables you TO harass and escape his anna.
msns Velocity therefore the natural weapon against
an enemy better armed and more vulnerable on different
po'as. " the natural and indispensable weapon OF
ihe party weakest in resources, least powerful at sea-