New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
THE CREWS OF FRENCH SHIPS
NAVY AND MERCHANT MARINE MANNED
LARGELY BY BRETONS.
THEY FORM EIGHTY PER CENT OF THE CREWS
OF THE FRENCH LINERs-A HARDY. BRAVE.
sEAFARING RACE. SAID TO BE IN
SURPASSED AS SAILORS.
-R CENT OF THE CREWS


sEAFARING RACE. SAID TO BE IN
SURPASSED AS SAILORS.
Paris July -.
The narratives OF the survivors of the Bour
gogne disaster, some Of them containing charges
Of brutality and cowardice. not only against
the steerage passengers. but also against the
crew Of the French transatlantic liner. cause
profound emotion in Paris The oceaH-travel-
ling public. appalled, by the great loss Of life.
although more than forty minutes Is said 10
have elapsed between the moment the vessels
came into collision and the time La BOurgOgne
went down. demands that searching inquiries
he made into the qualities OF FTenchmen as
sailors
Is the French seaman in the hour Of danger
as well disciplined coOl-headed and trustworthy
the Anglo-Saxon. Scandinavian or Teuton?
How do the crews OF the French transatlantic
steamers compare with those OF the British,
German and Dutch liners which make regular
weekly trips between New-York and Liverpool.
Southampton. Bremen. Hamburg and Antwerp?
Such are the questions now constantly asked
by American tourists in Paris. and the prevail
ing opinion Of those who have crossed the Az
lantic French and other lines is that the
hardy Bretons disciplined by yearly training In
the navy. who form so per cent Of the crews OF
the transatlantic companys steamers are equal
to any seamen In the world. The Breton and
the Scandinavian are the two most thorough
bred seafarng races in Europe or the crew Of
La Bourgogne 1873 were Bretons, Of whom 81
came from the village Of Treguer. % from
Lannlon. II from Paimpo from Saint-Breuc
j from Binic and from Oman. OF those lost
81 were natives Of Treguler. - born at
- 81, Axtstn
perlshed had wives and families dependent
upon them and the grief IF the women and
children OF these primitive little Brittany towns
and villages can readily be imagined although
the women are as sturdy the men. and bear
up against their misfortune with pluck and
forttude
THE BACKBONE OF THE FRENCH NAVY
We're 1t not for Brittany It would be impos-
s!ble for France 10 maintain her place as the
second naval Power Of the world. In spite OF
the popularity OF Pierre Lofts "Pecheurs d'ls!-
ande" and Of the saltwater poems OF Yam
Nibor and Notwithstanding the public's fond
ness for paintings like Cottets triptych repre-
senting the departure OF Finisterre fishermen
for the Newfoundland Banks. which was so
greatly admired in the Salon this year. and
which was recently purchased for the National
Gallery. there are few persons
who realize the enormous obligations imposed
by the Government upon this seafaring and
sea loving population. which furnishes 40 per
cent OF the ordinary seamen and 90 per cent Of
the nrst-class seamcn and petty officers OF the
French Navy and mercantile marine.
A limited number OF sailors come from Nor
mandy Picardy and tho Basque districts OF the
Bay Of Biscay Il is so difficult to get any blue
Jackets from the Mediterranean departments or
Provence and Nice that the Maritime Prefect
OF the great naval station Of Toulon is obliged
to obtain recruits from Brest. Since the days
OF the Valois the Bretons have always formed
the backbone Of the naval strength Of France.
The Inscription Maritime" instituted by Col
bert the great Minister OF Louis XIV. requiring
all sailors and sea fishermen to be inscribed on
the rosters Of the navy and 10 he liable FOR
duty in the fleets and arsenals between the
ages Of eighteen and fifty. has survived all the
upheavals Of revolution empire or republic
and remains to-day the law OF the land. the
able bodied male population OF the Breton coast
Is almost exclusively engaged in the deep-sea
fishing Of Newfoundland. Iceland or the North
Sea. or else in the trawling and inshore fishery.
THE TRAINING OF BRETON SEAMAN.
AS soon as the young Breton attains his |
eighteenth year his seven years period or SER
vice I'm the navy begins. At first he Is sent 10 |
,ne of the naval stations at Brest, Lorient' |
Rochefort Cherbourg or Toulon TO be "oroken |
n After eight months or year or shore
,utv in which time he undergoes drill more
tho that Of n soldier than a sailor. and is taught
q become n good marksman with riie' ne Is
tent on board ship. and is put through course
y gunnery and torpedo instruction. After five
.,ars. active service he IL allowed two years
urlough which is usually passed either In the
leep-sea or shore fishery on board the Trans
,tlantIc or Messageries company's liners. After
bis first perod OF seven years the inscript can
u no longer called out except by decree Of the
,ead OF the State in case OF war or extraor-
Iinary emergency; but until he is nifty he is
,ot allowed to live In a foreign country nor TO !
erve anywhere except on French ship.
To counterbalance these heavy obligations the
nscript enjoys certain advantages. After three
hundred months Of sea service In the fleet or
he merchant service he is entitled to half pay.
With reverson in part To his widow and chill
ren under age To cover a portion OF the ex-
enses OF the half-pay system the Treasury OF
nvallded Sailors Administration retains per
ent on all contracts for supplies made on be-
alf OF the navy, and the same percentage on
he wages paid to merchant sailors The in1
cript Is also taken care Of at the naval nos |
itals free OF charge when he falls i'll. and
french merchant ships are not allowed TO TAKE
= sailors any except maritime inscripts |
The term sailor" Is. according 10 french |
.gal INTERPRETATION ANY individual who has
made two ocean voyages in the fleet or In the
months before the mast or has been engaged