The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-03-15
IN EXPERT 5 OPINION Of OUR G.VY.
FRENCH NAVAL ATTACHE.
Bays When Our New Ships Are Completed tr"
United States viii be the Second
Great Naval Power.

Lieutenant de Faramond of the
French navy, recently arrived at
Washington In company with the
French Ambassador, NJ. Cambon, to
become naval attache of the French
embassy. Lieutenant de Faramond
has had wide experience as naval OBJ
server following the Japanese and
Chinese vessels through the China
Japan war, and Is now here to study
American naval methods. Speaking OF
the American navy Lieutenant de ia
ramona said:
"The American navy has attracted
worldwide attention within the last
year. and this Is leading European
countries TO send naval attaches to
Washington. This will be the first time
that the French government has had a
naval attache with the embassy. A
German naval officer Is coming to the
German embassy and other countries
doubtless will follow I'm the same line.
"Since the Spanish American war
this country affords splendid facilities
for naval study. 1t was the first real
test of modern fighting vessels, and
naval science must draw its conclusions
largely from what the American navy
accomplished during the war with
Spain.
IL think Il is universally conceded In
Europe that the American navy made
a splendid record, not only In general
way. but in the technical matters OF
naval detail. 1t demonstrated the eff
fectiveness of the rapid fire gun of
medium callber. rather than the larger
guns. 1t also seemed to show that the
power of a navy Is more In its weapons
of attack and offense, its capability of
giving blows, rather than in its heavy
armor and capability of resisting
blows.
1--WE also know your American armor
and are using the Harvcyized Americ-
an product, which has been found en-
tirely satisfactory thus far"
Lieutenant de Faramond says foreign
naval observers are not only interested
I'm tho results of the war. but are also
observing the large amount OF naval
construction now in progress in the
United States and the naval improve
ment 1t involves. From Italian naval
statistics he shows that the United
States Is today reckoned second among
the great Powers in point of warships
under construction. This tonnage by
countries is as follows.
Great Britain 1912 tons: United
States. 56.425: Japan, 1880; Russia. 20
040;' France, 25.66S; Germany, 16,545;
Italy 2.972.
AN interesting line OF inquiry, SAID
Lieutenant de Faramond. "is as to
why you are building so many heavy
ships--ironclads. as we call them-as
against the lighter, swifter cruisers.
The ironclad is essentially a home ship
and is not fitted. owing to her bulk and
lack of coal capacity, for crossing the
ocean or for long cruises. The French
navy has in commission Is ironclads
on the Mediterranean and in the
Northern squadron: but these are pure
ly defense vessels and never leave the
home ports.
THE performance of your battleship
oregon, in running $4,000 miles around
South America, was remarkable for
that reason, and the present trip across
the Pacific is equally remarkable but
judged by the usual naval standards,
an armorod cruiser would have been
much better equipped for these long
voyages. She has the speed, the coal,
and at the same time sufficient armor
to make her defensive powers almost
equal TO those of the ironclad.