The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-07-23
FRENCH AND ENGLISH NAVIES.
Frances Weakness Shown Up by One
of Her AdmiraIs-Threatens Eng
land with Privateers.

Rear Admiral Dupont, writing to the
Gaulois on French and English navies
says:
"The speech of Mr.. Chamberlain, the
campaign waged against us in the Eng
lish press, the attacks of the British
minister on Russia, the general i'll hu.
NOR of the English merchants, men,
aeed everywhere in their interests, con.
stitute disquieting symptoms which il
would be puerile to ignore. The ques.
ton 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.
cilities of concentration Of forces, the
judicious choice and the preparedness
of naval bases, our inferiority is no.
torious. Since the application Of the
naval defense act our neighbors have
doubled their resources by construct
ing with a feverish haste. They have
been able TO launch within single year
as many as five battleships offrom $4,000
to $4,000 tons, eight large cruisers, and
SAudliNl NteStlGs 81 llldb llC ulS plO'
portion, already great, which existed
between the two navies has been enor.
mously increased. England can now
put into line "a battleships from 1900 to
$4,000 tons, SO large cruisers, and
very large number of smaller vessels
among which should be noted a numer.
Gus hotilla of very rapid torpedo-boai
destroyers. Besides these vessels, &c
older battleships, for the most part re-
modelled, may be reckoned as a solid
reserve to this already formidable force.
"WhRt 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 are of no use fol
service, and taking into account break.
downs and accidents, we may say, on
the whole, thatthe strength Of our navy
is between n third and half of that o,
the English navy. The quality of the
similar vessels in both nayies is about
the same. The English vessels have in
general a look of greater strength. 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 be less easily
kept up, in spite of the nominal fig
ures to be found in the numerous lists
published in both countries.
''ln a word, the value of similar types
is approximately the same, but we re-
main in presence Of a crushing numer.
ical superiority. And our inferiority
is increased by the inadequate prepare
tiQn of stations outside of Europe
While England is strongly posted a the
outlets of all the great maritime lines
Of the globe. we are reduced to utiliz.
ing few indiffereutly placed positions.
I'VE shall patiently bide our time,
and 10 viii certaiRly come. Meanwhile
we shall organize an implacable system
Of priyaieering against the trade Of our
eventual enemy. know not what dip
lomatists think Of the convention Of
1856. but as for ms sailors. let the Eng
lisb 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.