New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-03-02
The French Arman,ents.

On the Sd ult., Lord John Russell, in the British
House of Commons, replying to some questions ad-
dressed to the Government as to the alleged mill
tary preparations of France, made the following
reply:
All I can say with regard to this subject Is.
that we have in Paris very able Ambassador
and military Attache to the Embassy, possessing
great knowledge and experience of the French
army. From neither one nor the other has her
Majestyis Government received any account Of any
extraordinary military preparations in France. IA
for the statement Of six hundred thousand men to
be in readiness for the field by the spring there is
nothing to corrohorate it. A great number of men
may be called on to serve In the French army by
CONSUMPTION, and general CONSUMPTION takes place
in the course of every year. No..
The honorable gentleman must recollect that
the Peace of Zurich has not long been signed and
the Congress that was summoned for the purpose
Of rendering the pacification of Italy solid and
durable has not been held II IS therefore desfr-
able, while peace is so recent and the affairs of
Italy have not yet settled down. to use every means
TO prevent renewal Of the war, or any collision in
Italy that might excite it, Her MajesfV's Govern
ment has recently been engaged in efforts to secure
the permanence of that peace and can state that
everything that has been done has proved most
satisfactory. We have represented to the Govern
ment OF Sardinia the danger of any collision with
Austria on the territory of Venetia or elsewhere
and have to-day received an assurance from the
Sandman Government that it will do nothing tend
ing to cause q renewal Of hostities. France aIso
neWal OF the war; the Government of the Emperor
is exerting itself earnestly and unremittfngy To Sc
cure the solidity and pefmanenee of the peace. On
the other hand Austria, though unwilling to acqui-
esce in the present state of Italy, is by no means
disposed to renew the war by making any attack
on the Powers in possession of the country With
out venturing to predict what viii be the course Of
events in the next year. may say that the present
aspect of affairs Is faVorable nor il there any rea
son to suppose that France is making the military
preparations my honorable friend has referred to-
" With regard to the naval arsenals of France
and the great activity described as prevailing in
them, we all know that great change has taken
place in the character of naval warfare 1t is made
matter of speculation in books and pamphlets
what the character of the next naval war will he
The Government Of the late King Of the French.
Louis Philippe, drew up plan for Increasing the
strength Of the French navy. Every ruler Of
France for nearly the last hundred years has en-
deavored to increase and strengthen its marine.
They have all considered, naturally enough, that
France ought to be strong at sea, not with view
TO any rivalry, but from belief that each nation
ought to maintain its ancient character Icannot
say therefore, that the naval preparations Of
France ought to be matter of jealousy to u.s. II
the tws nations that there should be no such
preparation and no strong navy, We might expect
France to follow our course in that respect; but.
while France determines to make herself strong at
sea, and we like to have strong navy also, do not
think it is q reason why the two nations should
have any dispute with each other.n