The times., 1898-06-12
FRENCH AND ENGLISH NAv1Es
Frances weakness shown Up by
one Of Her Al rails.
lFrom ID Loaddn Timesl


Rear Admiral Dupont writing today in
the GauIois on French and English navies,
says:
The speech Of Mr.. Chamberlain, the
campaign waged against US in the Eng
lLsh press. the attacks Of the British min
lister on Russia, the general ill-humor of
the English merchants, menaced every
where In their interests. constitute disqui-
eting symptoms which II would be puerile
10 ignore The question naturally arises,
therefore, n eyerybodys mind Is the
French navy ready for an eventual strug-
gle with the English navy2 As regards
the number Of ships now available, as re-
CARDS facility. Of concentration Of forces,
the judicious choice and the preparedness
of naval bases our iRferiorjty is notori-
Gus.
Since the application of the naval de-
fense act our neighbors have doubled
their resources by constructing with a
feVerish haste. They have been able to
launch within single year as many as
five battleships of from 12G0 TO 1900
tons, eight large cruisers and twenty-five
smaller vessels, so that the disproportion,
already great which existed between the
two nayies has been enormously in
creased. England can now put into line
thirty-four battleships of from 5000 TO
l5,oe9 tons, fifty-two large cruisers and
very large number Of smaller vessels,
among which should be noted a numerous
totilla Of very rapid torpedo boat de-
stroyers. Besides these vessels, twenty
Older battieships, for the most part re-
modelled, may be reckoned as a solid re-
serve to this already formidable force
What have we to set against this ar
ray? Sixteen new battIeships, eight good
defense V@scaTS 1hnTrr N al hat
tleships of mediocre value, and twenty
three modern cruisers. Reckoning on
both sides the vessels that are of no use
for service. and taking into account
breakdOwns and accidents we may say,
on the whole. that the strength of our
navy is between a third and a half of
that of the English navy. The quality of
the similar vessels in both navies is
about the same. The English vessels
have in general a look of greater strength,
they can go greater distances, and their
tonnage Is greater. which enables them to
be better armed and equipped. Their
guns are well placed. but less powerful at
an equal caliber. The speed is usually
inferior to ours and can be less easily
kept up in spite Of the nominal figures
to be found in the numerous lists pub
4 lished in both countries.
In a word the value Of similar types is
approximately the same. but we remain
in presence Of a crushing numerical
periority. And our inferority is increased
by the Inadequate preparation of stations
outside Europe. White Eng and is strong
" posted at the outlets OF all the great
maritime lines of the globe, we are re-
duced to utilizing d few indifferently
placed positions.
I'VE shall patiently bide our time. and
it viii certainly come. Meanwhile we
shall organize an implacable system of
privateering against the trade of our
eventual enemy. / know not what dipIo-
matists thing OF the Convention of 1856
but as for US sailors. let the English be
assured beforehand that we shall carry
on privateering against them, and let them
take the ruin of their maritime trade into
their forecasts"