The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-19
THE FRENCH NAVY.
The Former Minister Of Marine
Has Only Criticism for It.

Has Only Criticism for 1t.
Paris, Feb. i'm. Edouard Lockroy. a
former minister of marine. delivered a
scathing criticism of the French navy
in the Chamber of Deputies yesterday on
the occasion of the discussion of the ma
val budget. The speaker was too IA
tigued to conclude his speech. so the dis
cussion was adjourned until today.
At the outset NJ. Lockroy pointed out
that the present naval situation was one
which called for the whole attention of
the public powers. He reminded the
Chamber Of the incessant accidents to
boilers which were reported daily and the
breaking of the piston rod of the Bruix.
A considerable sum has been put in the
budget this year. and 1t was necessary
that the money should not be wasted as
formerly.
In his opinion the first reform needed
was to separate the fleet which was being
bufN from the fleet which was construct
ed Enthusiastically and miitarily. Was
this reform which he had begun, being
continued? 1t was to be doubted. How
ever that might be- he could only speak
with admiration of the personnel of the
navy.
continuing. he Sa1U tnat the minister OIL
marine had not known how to make its
naval program harmonic with the for
eign policy of France. A few years ago
they Were still building I'm their yards
vessels of the old type. The conduct of
Germany was very different. That power
had n plan and method; there were only
seven or eight types among her iron
clads. cruisers. and torpedo boats. where
as France had more than thirty types.
Tfa1x xx-,- 1t
rapid mobilization of her ships. Was il
necessary to speak of England? The
Spithead review had shown what this
colossal naval power was.
And while their rivals were growing
bigger and bigger France was remaining
at a standstill. and their foreign policy
laid them more than ever open to a mar
thine danger. In their last naval wars
France had had England for an ally. but
they had repulsed England's friendship.
and she had stretched out her hand to
nation whose attitude might, at a given
moment, bring France face to face with
naval coalition. In the presence of
such situation. how was it possible not
to be surprised TO see the minister OF
marine proposing the building of torpedo
boats which only steamed twenty-foar
knots? English torpedo boats did not
make less than twenty-seven, twenty
eight and twenty-hine knots.
Passing to the question of coaling sta
tions and fresh-water stations. NJ. Lock
roy enumerated the ports which Eng
land possessed on all her maritime routes
France had Toulon, on the Mediterra-
mean, and Saigon. In the far East. They
could have appropriated the ports of
Bizerta, on the Tunisian coast, but they
had only made insufficient works, and
Ajaccio was at the mercy of flotilla of
torpedo boats. Bonifacio was only
long couloir. which would not allow Of
the entry of large fleets. and Admiral
de Cuverville had said that Corsica
would be In danger in case of war. What
was the good of building large ships il
they did not construct harbors where
they could take refuge? But that was
not almost of their ironclads could
not be disposed of: they were he as
serted. very inferior.
Continuing. the speaker said the state
of the navy of France was well known
to her enemies. Major Scott, an Eng
lishman. had said il was attacked by
cholera morbus. The vessels were over
burdened. their superstructure was too
big and the costly accessories, which
crushed them could only compromise
their stability. They would understand
the Kaisers exclamation upon seeing the
Hoche: "Oh, what a splendid target
The former minister of marine did not
speak favorably of the steaming capa-
bilities of French vessels. He pointed
out that not one Of their cruisers could
go 10 Algiers and back without renew
ing its coal supply. Only the Bugeaud
could go TO Palermo and back.
As to the personnel. a naval officer had
rarely passed the rank of captaine de
vaisseau at the age of fifty. and II was
not a rare thing TO see father and son
both lieutenants de vaisseau. During
the last eighteen months there had been
twenty-six designations among en-
seignes de vaisseau.