New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-02
FRENCH CABINET UPHELD.
THE VOTE $50 TO 100.
OUTCOME OF THE DEBATE IN THE
CHAMBER on THE NAVY'S
CONDITION.
ADMIRAL LEFEVRE. MINISTER OF MARINE RE-
PLIES IN DETAIL TO NJ. LOCKROY's CHARGES
GENERAL MERCIER on TIE EFFI-
CIENCY or TIE COAST DETENCES
THE COMMISSION or
INQUIRY.

Paris Feb. The debate the Interpolation
Of NJ I.ockroy in regard to the condition of the
Navy was resumed in tn Chamber of Deputies
to-day and at its close the Chamber adopted
the order Of the day. expressing confidence in the
Government. the vote standing $50 to 100.
The first speaker to-day was Admiral Leftvre
Minister Of Marine He said that Government
recognized that reforms We're necessary in the
Navy It had therefore nominated a commission.
which had consented to serve. and which would
have full power to investigate naval affairs.
He compared the naval expenditures Of France
with those Of the Triple Alliance, quoting sta
tistics prepared by NJ Chautemps. a member of
the Chamber The Minister declared that he did
not believe that Frances ironclads cruisers and
torpedo-boats were in condition Of inferiority,
as had been asserted by NJ. Lockroy. Even
English authority admitted that the French
Navy was better armed with guns and shells
than was the English Navy
In regard to the turret-ship Magenta. which
NJ Lockroy had said defective, the Minister
Of Marine said that NJ Locllroy was mistaken.
That vessel met the requirements. This was
also the case with the turret-ship Neptune. Con-
timing Admiral Lefevre said that the delay In
building vessels was due to the fact that the
Toulon Yards were overwOrked. Damages To
vessels sometimes occurred in consequence OF
defective surveying. which was severely pun
sufficient to prevent them from performing war
service The deficits in the provisions were due
10 the system Of tenders the regulations I'M
posed 1t was untrue that the transport Car
onne had been unable to leave LOrent because
she had no flour.
ADMIRAL I.efdvre closed by declaring that the
Navy would always endeSvor 10 rise TO the
height Of the task facing H. 49,
General MERCER. Minister Of War. said that
the Government had been taken to task regard
ing the coast defenCes. France. he declared.
was not unprOvded with either defences or de-
tenders 1t was necessary TO proclaim the
truth in the presence of foreign nations The
armaments of the coast forts. which had been
placed in the forts in 1885, required modifica-
tons on account of the progress of science
Such notifications were proceeding within the
limits of the credits granted. and would be rea-
sonably augmented annually. Since NJ Lock-
roy was Haunting the bOmbardment bOSle. he
added. he must say that II should be recollected
that the odds were in favor of the forts as
against ironclads. Twenty thousand fully
equipped We're ready to defend Corsica,
which NJ. LockrOy had said was absolutely de-
fenceless AjacciO was fortified The forces
for the defence of the French coast exceeded
2OO,00 men, excluding those who might be
mobiliZed. The fOrtifcations were being in
creased. Though attempt on the part OF an
enemy 10 land troops at the Cotentin was not
likely. the building of a fort there was being
considered. The War Minister'S speech evoked
warm applause
NJ Casimr-Perier the Prime Minister. said he
objected to the appoirt tment Of a Parliamentary
Commission OF Inquiry. The eXtra-Parlia-
mentary Commission gave sufficient guarantees
that a thorough inquiry would be made. The
latter commission would study reforms which a
Parliamentary commission could not study. The
Prime Minister several times Interrupted by
Radicals.
NJ Grevie- RGache stated that he had refused
a seat on the eXtra-Parliamentary Commission
because he thought il would only result in a
surface investigation.
NJ. Brsson attacked the composition OF the
extra Parliamentary Commission. NJ. LOckrOy
declared that the Government recognized the
truth of the statements made by him on Tues
rrrl, al.al IN mi n a
statements and pleaded eXtenuatng crcum-
stances, it was unable 10 deny them.