St. Paul daily globe., 1893-08-20
VARIOUS \ HIPS.
The Eastern Naval Force of Britain
Superior to That Of France.

The Eastern Naval Force of Britain
Superior to That Of France.
it is not surprising to learn that the
British have. Ii far more numerous and
powerful fleet in the waters of Eastern
and Southern Asia than the French.
Important as may be the interests of
the latter in Cochin China, Tonquin and
AMMAN, they are far outw weighed by
British interests in Indian, Burmah and
China, so that at the present time the
navaiforce Of the latter is much superior
i'll waters not far distant from Siam,
says the Boston Traveller.
or tue French vessels may be noted,
in the first place, those that have al
ready made their way to Bangkok. or
these the gunDoats Lutin anu Comete
ale of about 4I3 tons displacement each,
aud tile lnconstante of about S1l tous.
EacirearrleS two o115 inch and one or two
3,9-inch guns, besides machine guns.
Then we have the Lion, Il sister ship of
the Comete. aud the Aiouette. "a Lrifie
larger. All these five can easily cross
the bar i'll the Menam river.
A much smaller pair OF paddlewheel
gunboaiS are the Joaquin and Moulum.
of I02 tons each, carrying about 80 men,
and armed with two 81 Iaa-lnch guns, while
there are also five little craft OF the
Arqnebusa type, having little less dis
PLACEMENT than our torpedo boat CuSn-
ling. These also are said to carry each
a pair Of 81 z-luch rifles.
Mention has been made In the dis
patches oi the ForfaIt as being below
Bangkok, but unable to cross the bar of
the Menam river. She is large wooden
vessel Of quite Il different type from
tI,s,.A alrooIs l,t n1rrvinu
goodly number of 5H-inch guns and a
crew of 264 men. Gne flagship of Adj
miral Humann is the TrIompnante, an
arnorclad of slow speed, but Carrying a
heavy battery, including some 9.4 iIlch
guns, and having 3So men. The An
Mantle is very large armed transport
vessel of over j. 400 tons. having 3l5 men.
1t will be observed that tue French
have taken the precautiOn to assemble
considerable number OF small craft in
that region for river service. These
would: all be effective Oh the Menam,
although their guns are of small cailDer
for much service against earthworkS If
properly constructed.
The British naval forces are much
stronger, as they include those both of
the China and the East India station.
/ he former are commanded by Vice.
-Asimiral Fremautle, whose flagship is
the lmperieuse. a barbette armorclad of
recent construction. having $500 tons
displacement, 10000 horse power, II
knots speeds, and carrying four 9.2-inch
and six 6-inch guns. ln the China fleet
we find the Leander, a steel cruiser Of
4. 800 tons aud nominal speed of IL
knets. though she made less OH her trial,
with crew of 2S5 men, and earring ten
6-ihch guns, with four rapid fires and
fourteen machine guns. She Is about ten
years old.
Next to be noted is the Severn. of
4.4e9 tons, 5000 horse power, a speed
said to exceed Is knots, and crew of 276
dHen. she was launched, nearly fifteen.
/ years ago, and carries two efght-inch
and ten six-inch rifles. The Mercury
was iii her day regarded as the fastest
cruiser afiOat, making 1S15 knots. She,
like the Severn, was launched in 1878.
and was costly vessel. She has $3.50
tons displacement and I. .260 horse power,
earring 2S5 men and l3 iive-inch rifles.
with four rapid-tire and seven machine
guns.
The Pallas, carrying eight guns and
PIG men, has already been spoken OF i'll