The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-02
STATE OF FRANCES NAVY.
THE GOVERNMENT DENIES N. LOCK-
ROF'S NAVY CHlRGKa

Reforms Are Needed, Bot the Navy II Ne,
Isfsrior-Coast neieness Aaeasnte-Ths
Chs.bsr Passes vote or Conscience.
PANS Feb. 1.-The debate on the Interpret
latlon Of N. Lockroy In regard to the condi-
tlon Of the navy was continued In the Cham ber
Of Deputies to-day. Admiral Lefevre, Minister
Of Marine. said the Government recognized
that reforms were necessary In the navy. IL
had therefore nominated q Com mission which
had consented to serve and which would have
full power to Investigate naval matters 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 ironelads
cruisers and torpedo boats we're in a condi-
ton 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.
With regard to tho turret ship Magenta,
which NJ. Lockroy had said was defective. the
Minister said that ". Lockroy was mistaken.
That vessel met the requirements. This was
also the case in respect OF the turret ship Nep-
tune The delay In building vessels was due
to the fact that the Toulon yards were over
worked. Damages to vessels sometimes oc-
CURED in consequences OF defective surveying,
which was severely punished The defects In
tho torpedo boats were not sufficient to pre-
vent them from performing war service. The
deficits in the provisions were due to the sys-
tenn OF tenders the regulations i'm posed. Iuwas
untrue that the transport Larance had been
unable to leave Torrent because she had no
flour.
Admiral Leievre concluded By declaring that
tho navy would always cndeavor to rise to the
height Of the task facing il.
: Gen Mercier Minister. OF War. said that the
GoveInment had been taken to task regard
In hapI rad
was, neither unptovded with defences nor de-
tenders. 1t was necessary to proclaim the
armaments 81 the coast forts which had been
placed in the forts in 1884 required moiifica-
such notifications were proceeding within
the limits OF the credits granted, aud would be
Locsroy iiaTnts the Do bom an S oSe, he
added. no must say that it should be recol-
lected that the odds We're in favor OF forts as
Twenty thousand fully eap!pped men we're
ready 70 defend Corsica, which NJ Lockroy
was fortified. The forces Tor the defence OF
the French coast exceeded 100000 men. eN-
fortifcations we're being Increased, though an
attempt on the part o. an enemyto land troops
81 g., fGtentin was rot likey The building OF
hope that the. Chamber was, satisfied Of the
did not desire to parade his military science.
The War Minister'S speech evoked warm ap-
NJ Dufaure spoke briefly. and ~ Lockroy
followed him. Lockroy declared that the Gov
eminent recognized the truth OF the state
1t endeavored to minimize those statements,
and pleaded extenuatlng circumstances. 1t was
unable to deny them.
NJ. Thomson combated NJ Lockroy's state
ments.
NJ. Casimir- Perier. the Prime Minister. said
ne objected to the appointment OF a Paria-
mcntary commission OF Inquiry. The extra
Parliamentary Commission gave sufficient
guarantees that thorough inquiry would be
made. The latter Com mission would study re-
not study.
The Prime Minister was several times inter-
rupted by Radicals.
VI. Gorvillo -Reache aaid that he had refused
a seat on the extra Parliamentary Commis-
sion because he thought IL would only result
in n surface Investigation.
VI. Brtsson attacked the composition OF the
extra Pnrlamentary Commission.
The Chamber then adopted tho order OF the
dav express ny confidence in the Government
the vote standing 3JU TO 100.