New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
THE FRENCH NAVAL PLANS.
Sr EXPENDITURE VOTED FOR THE
MOST POWERFUL WARSHlPS.

nrss1A WILL SPEND AS MUCH AS ENG
LAND THIS COMPLEMENTARY
IN THE FRENCH NAVY.
Paris. February 5.
v.ver before has the French Navy been sub
sctea 70 such unsparing criticism as character
-, the remarkable debates in the Chamber or
nsoutes which ended this afternoon by the
,son,lon OF a programme committing the
.onntry during the next eight years to an
,rormousIy increased naval expenditure and
marking new departure in the maritime pol
to a, France which. in connection with
,hs simultaneous and proportionate increase
~ the naval budget of Russia. is full of
1snifcapce For five consecutive days M
Inckroy NJ Delcasse and the Count de
rr4veneuc did their utmost TO convince the
rbamber that the French fleet utterly un-
orsnsred for war: that its artillery vas OF such
,hsterogeneous description-guns of twenty-five
aserent calibres often being found on the same
,sssel-as 10 be worthless that % per cent or
ts ships were unable to go to sea owing to de-
fsctiye boilers WORKOUT machinery or obsolete
umaments: that the arsenals and dockyards
were inadequate. and that the system OF haVa'
nromoton was based on favoritism without re-
rard TO merit or efficiency
uhalf of NJ. LockrOys indictment be true. the
taxpayers may well ask whether or not ther
raw IS absolutely useless, for according 10 MS
exaggerated statements the fleet was neither
espable II remaining at sea nor Of taking refuge
In its own ports or dockyards. Nj. Lockroys
arguments We're refuted point by point by M
De- Kerjegu on behalf of the Budget Commis-
sion and 5y Admiral Besnard. Minister 81 Mar
ne and had no great weight except with the
ANAL minority now called the Little France
party who feel that it is impossible Tor the
nation TO possess at the same time an army and
anavy Of the foremost rank. They contend that
France has not money nor resources enough 70
maintain both and that the people must make
I'D their minds as to which Of the two must De
sacriscsd IF the French Army" they say. be
annhilated and the French fleet be VICTORIOUS
France is lost, while If he French Army De VIC
torous and the French fleet annihilated france
Is saved" Nor does France, they say, heeo
navy to assure her food supply; for II mas oeeh
shown that even in war France can feeo herseH'
These views however. are now denounced as ao-
solutaly unpatr0tic. and the Parliament oy
large majority has decided upon the active proS-
e,uton VI q naval programme when may Oe
Considered as the French counterpart TO the
famous Naval Defence Act of 1889, the outcome
Of the British naval scare ten years ago
The new French naval programme--the CON
sructon" chapters Of which extend over
period Of eight years-wil during 1898 cost the
country S5sVovtD; this being increase Of
t70oUv over the budget of last year. This
sum includes the annuity Of SlS.OD.OU "hlch
France is 10 expend until 1905 for the recon
limo
tine that year is reached. a lump sum OF slol'-
l4sVoo For the period lS9S-1Jo2 the average
annual expenditure on new ships ana theii
engines and ornaments is fixed at S2Z,JVVVV
making under this head alone an increase VI ID
Per cent over the highest estimate ever yet
voted 1t is noteworthy that Russia, according
10 the published budget figures FOR 1875 pro
poses 10 spend on new construction -'"VVo"
rubles-say Sl3. 800 O-being 20 per cent more
than Russia has ever before spent Tor TINS pur-
rOse II Will thus be seen that France ana Rus
tia together have decided 70 devote 10 new ha'a'
Constructions alone during the present year
SUN u S}6.2jOOOO
A COMPARISON WITH ENGLAND.
t. compare these figures with those in the
English Parliamentary Returns allowance must
be made for certain classes of ornaments ana
toIpelOes which are not included uhder Ihe
zane heading in the British naval estimates.
These corrections being made, it will Oe iouho
That the $36 10000 that France and Russia are
70 spend III new ships for the year 1915 Dy
Singular coincidence. corresponds almost eAac'iy
With the sum that England has decided 70 de-
vote to the same object during the same perioo'
us precise amount set apart for Duhdihs ne"
thips fof the British Navy being S3O.JVVoo'
These figures are somewhat startling II 1t De
borne in mind that Admiral Colomb. LORD
Charles Beresford and all the leading naval au-
'hofties ~ England hold that 1t is an absolute