The sun., 1896-10-08

proach the cruisers, in order to prepare for the
general combination. The three squnlrons
were made UP as follows; Squadron A, Bren-
WattIgnios, d'iberville, Casabianca. Flibustler,
1Fr n1a Sa%" sTSs sSg9Sson cdc e % Esaa R
SfaxU. SfU Leeer, % and ornge; SQUADRON /, Magenta,
Rodoutabie, Devastation. Cieurbet, Faucon,
ln solving this problem sent out its cruis-
@ ers In two columns; on, one of them. ,n; com;
the enoqY's attention. and also to heat of hos;
tile cruisers. Almost simultaneously tho B
squadron quilted Aiacco and, success crown
idng their Efforts, The two sqnadrons, united.
Then they engaged squadron Il, to which their
comhinoh trength was superior.
This second part of the ma ~uyrcs mnfortu.
first, uue man was Killed aud two were gc-
vcrely injured by, thc oXul,son o.! a water
rcsers proceeded 10 phiiipvlile and Alglers iot
supplies, the Magenta broke away from Ter
arivcn uron rrcf, which r'ppcd away soma
coal, she was lishtcred sufficiently to get
away. aLl suffered no structural harm.
In the third stage OF the manruvres, Squad
ron A., presumably representing the. naval
force of France. lrarns that the enemy''s fleet,
represented by Squadron h, IL at hand, intend
ing to attack the Mediterranean ports, and
also to romove or DESTROY the setnaphores. 1t
sble, and If not, u aid in the defence of tho
ports These latter are helped by torpedo
patrol the threatened coast
The Squadrnns got away on their appointed
task, being strengthened by tho FOrban and
the Avcnturer, In order TO make up for some
losses. When Il was on the open soa. the cruis-
ers Amiral ChRrnier, Latouche- Treville ana
Suchct secuted in advance, and tho Suchet was
passed by the SfaX. ChanZy and CeCille, but
escaped through superior speed. squadron b
arrived opposite Toulon, and BEGAN operations
against the semaphore signals first by can
nonadinE and then by landing hlneiackcts
and marines under a heavy fire from Its bat
fnpIn h.N tnr In Inn nf-
fcred resistance, but were driven of by the
destroyer NautNur. Still, the fire from tho
land batteries was supposed to have injured
some OF Squadron BIS ships, and meanwhile
II had been placed In II dangerous position by
having il, rort or Coaling hnse of Dellys de-
stroyct by The fire of the Redoutahle The lat
ter. however, was ndiudgcd to have suffered
severely in the encounter.
on the whole. the upshot seems to lie that
while squadron b made havoc with the scIna.
phorGs. its capacity for resuming the offensive
was impaired by its dwindlng coal supply,
loss of its port. The time for the mannuvres
expired before the two fleets could yet near
enough for the decisive action. Hut from the
causes JUST specified. and the injuries received
considered that battle would have resulted IN
her defeat. As she represented the enemy.
this conclusion was Of course. satisfactory
to French desires, but the British critic a.!
zeal and efficiency OF the officers and men.
finds .ault with the ar,nored ships in general
for some lack Of coal capacity and speed.
After these main operations were over, at
tacks on the Provence coast, defended by the
Toulon torpedo boa :. followed. In one OF
them the Amral Charnier, gOt by an en-
tered the harbor, but similar attempt of the
Magenta, the Neptune. the STAY. and the Nau'
tour was rtpulsed with great loss. 1t will be
seen how large a part in this years manGuvres
was played by torpedo boats.