The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-20

seven hundred and forty eight showed Ave
hundred and twenty in active service.
During the last six years, which have
witnessed something like a revolution in
naval matters, and unprecedented efforts
OH the part of other powers to keep pace
with the Improvements in the construo-
ton of armored vessels, France has spent
less upon her fleet than in the old days of
wooden frigates. In the decade ending
with 1870, the annual appropriation for the
marine aud the colonies averaged forty
two millions of dollars. Then came tho
war, and in 1Si2 We find the naval csti-
mates reduced to thirty millions, near
which point they have remained. 1t fol-
lows that in four years some forty millions
have been economical by stinting this
branch of the public service. We do not
say that the sums thus saved may not
have met moro urgent needs elsewhere,
but we observe that the share of the budg-
ct assigned TO colonial expenses has been
actually augmented in the same period,
thus leaving for tho maintenance of the
navy prop less than twenty-five million
dollars. against flfty-six millions now de-
voted by England annually to tho same
purpose. We ought TO add that the marine
arsonals were IN $50 almost completely
depleted of their ordnance, munitions,
stores, and building material, and that to
make good these losses, computed at
twelve millions of dollars would absorb
about onc-haf Of single years appro-
priation.
The sums available, however, for the
transformation OF the French neet have
been fully equal to those of which BIS
MARcK has disposed. AMI they would show
equivalent results had they been applied
III tue same thrifty, intelligent way to es-
sential objects. Tho subsidies granted by
The German Parliament are represented
by the newly created ports of KEEL aud
Wilhelmshafen, and by IA squadron of ar
mored vessels which rank amons the most
effective nnoat. The French millions, like
the preposterous appropriations of the
United States are frttcred away upon IA
multitude of civil employees, upon the re-
pair and equipment of suporannuated
wooden hulks. and upon n number of SUI
pertluous navy yards which, with ruin
Gus outlay for red tape and salaries. parcel
out the work which might have been done
in two.
With urgent and augmented necessities.
but with diminished resources, il would
seem to have behooved the French Minis
try OF Marine TO direct their economies,
FIRST, to the salaries OF non-combatants;
second, to the expenses or cruisers i'm COM
mission; last. and least OF all. TO the con-
siruction account destined to the fabrica-
ton of new vessels aud new engines of
war. That precisely the contrary course
was followed. Is matter of astonishment to
Frenchmen who are not familiar with the
mysterious management OF our own naval
department. They do not complain that
tho number of Government ships at sea
has shruuk since 1864 from nearly three
hundred to one hundred aud fifteen. But
when so many veteran officers are dis
charged. or on half pay, IL Is certainly hard
to understand why the marine budget Of
France should maintain upon its pay rolls
not less than 80 900 non-combatants.
The truth Is that France, like the United
States, is cursed with n supcrauity of navy
yards. OF these there ara not less than
nine, Of which Cherbourg, Brc-t. Torrent.
Rochefort. and Toulon are establishments
Of the first class. One arsenal on the Ned
iterranean and another on the Atlantic
would be adequate to the present wants of
the nation, aud II is PLAN that hai the
other ylIds been closed the work of naval
reconstruction could have been pressed
forward ut Toulou or Brest with sufficient
despatch aud u vast saving of expense. As
1t l., the annual amount applicable to
building, and equivalent, we will say, TO
the cost of one of the great ronclads OF
our day, must he apportionei in NJ Least
1--WE shares. Instead of rapidly completing
a gwen ship, to be followed next year by
an improved successor, Ave vessels, fac
SMILES OF one another, are finished in Ave
years, by the end OF which time, thanks to
the constant progress in naval architecture,
they are likely to prove worthless. Such
is the system to which the interests OF q
once powerful marine are committed At
an important crisis Of naval history. The
result is that with the exception of few
acces>ions, framed on exploded or ques-
tionable prime piles, ia, French navy. which
ten years asD was almost "A match tor ia It
of England, consists exclusively of wooden
vessels, the fiuil relics OF "A past era.