Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-08-12
FRENCH AND ENGLISH NAVIES.
Frances Weakness shown Up by One
of Her Admirnis-Threnten Eng
land with Privatecrs.

Rear Admiral Dupont, writing 10 the
Gaulois on French and English naves,
says:
"The speech of Mr.. Chamberlain, the
campaign wagcd against us in the Eng
lish press, the attacks of the British
minister on Russia, the general i'll hui
NOR of the English merchants, men.
aced everywhere in their interests, con-
stitute disquicting symptoms which it
would be puerile to ignore. The ques-
tion naturally arises therefore in every
body's mind, is the French navy ready
for an eventual struggle with the Eng
lish navy? As regards the number
of ships now available, as regards IA
ciities of concentration Of forces, the
judicous choice ard the preparedness
of naval bases, our inferiorty is no.
torious. Since the application OF the
naval defense act our neighbors have
doubled their resources by construct
ing with q fcvcrish haste. They have
been able to launch within a single year
as many rs five battleships from IL, 200
to $1,000 tons, eight large cruisers, and
90 smaller vessels, so that the dispro-
portion, already great, which existed
between the two navies has been enor-
mously increased. England can now
put into line "a battleships from 5000 TO
$4,000 tons, SO large cruisers, and a
very large number of smaller vessels,
among which should be noted a numer-
ous notlla Of very rapid iorpedo-boat
dcstroycrs. Besides these vessels, 20
older battleships, for the most part re-
modelled, may be rcckoncd rs solid
reserve to this already formidable force.
"What have we TO set against this ar
ray? Sixteen new battleships, eight
good coast defense vessels, about ten
| old battleships Of mediocre value, and %
modern cruisers. Reckoning on both
sides the vessels that urc Of no use for
service, and taking into account break
| downs and accidents, wc may say, on
the whole, that the strength of our navy
| is between a third and 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 look Of greaterstrength. They
can go greater distances, and their ton
mage 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 bc less easily
kept up, in spite Of the nominal fig
ures to be found in the numerous lists
published in both countries.
"In a word, the value Of similar types
is approximately the same, but we re-
main in presence of a crushing numer-
zeal superiority. And our nferiority
is increased by the inadequate prepara-
ton of stations outside of Europe.
While England is strongly posted at the
outlets of all the great maritime lines
of the globe, we arc reduced to utiliz-
ing few indifferently placed positions.
I'VE shall patiently bide our time,
and it will certainly conc Meanwhile
we shall organize an mplacable system
Of privntecring against the trade Of our
eventual enemy. know not what dip
lomatsts think Of the convention OF
1856, but ns for MS sailors, let the Eng
lish be assured beforehand that we
shall carry on privateering against
them, and let them take the ruin OF
their maritime trade into their fore.
casts."-London Times.