The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-13
EYES ON UNCLE SAM
EUROPE SENDING OVER IT'S NAVAL.
EXPERTS TO STUDY NEW
METHODS
LESSONS OF THE LATE WAR
They Have Not Been Lost Upon the
Powers of the COntinent-United
States Now Ranked Well Up To-
ward the Head of the List of Sea
Powers - All Honor Admiral
Dewey.

WASHINGTON, March 12-Lieut
de Farmond. Of the French navy, has
arrived here to become naval attache
of the French embassy. Lieut. de
Farmond has had wide experience as a
naval observer, following the Japanese
and Chinese vessels through the Cal
na-Japan war; and now comes here to
study American naval methods. Speak
ing of the American navy today Lieut.
de Farmond 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 the French government has had
a naval officer here. A similar officer
Is coming to the German embassy,
and other countries will doubtless fol-
low in the same line.
Since the Spanish 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 conelu-
sions largely from what the Ameri-
can navy accomplished during the late
war.
II think it is universally conceded
In Europe that the American navy
made a splendid record 1t demon
strated the effectiveness Of the rapid
fire gun of medium caliber rather than
the large guns. 1t also seemed to show
that the power of a navy is more in its
weapons of attack and offense: it's ca
pability of giving blows, rather than
In its heavy armor and capabilitv of
resisting blows.
I'VE, In France, were quite aware
of the growing power Of the American
navy even before the recent war Our
chief naval constructor came to this
country prior to the war and made
tour Of your docks and arsenals. On
bis return he made an official report
showing the improvements the Amer
lean naval constructors had brought
about particularly in the arrangement
of bulkheads and the distribution of
armor so as to protect vital points.
We also know your American armor,
and are using the Harveyized Amer
lean process. which has been fouud
entirely satisfactory thus far
WATCHING NEW SHIPS.
Lieut. de Farmond says foreign.
naval officers are not only interested
In the result 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 it Involves From statistics he
shows that the United States is today
reckoned second among the great pow
ers in point of warships under con-
struction. This tonnage by countries
is as follows:
Tons Tons
Great Britain. 153, 1872 France :. 500. 25, 668
United States -. 81. 425I Germany 1880. 16 545
Japan AZ $40 Italy 1872
Russia E,o4Ol
An interesting line of inquiry" said
Lieut. de Farmond, lis as to why YOU
are building so many heavy ships, iron
clads as we call them, as against the
lighter, swifter cruisers. The ironclad
is essentially 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 fifteen ironclads on
the Mediterranean and eight 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 re-
markable for that season, and her
present trip across the Pacific is equal
ly remarkable. But judged by the
usual naval standards an armored
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 de-
fensive powers almost equal to those
of the ironclads."
The lieutenant says that France has
gone further in the adoption of the
torpedo boat as an effective naval
weapon than any other country. She
has in all some $50 torpedo boats, some
of them very swift.
Lieut.. de Farmond thinks the adop-
ton of the water tube boilers In Ameri-
can warships will be a further i'm
provement and will make them much
more effective for long cruising This
class CT boilers, he says, has been adopt
ed by the British admiralty for the
Powerful, Terrible and ships of that
class, and quite generally by the
naval authorities of France Russia,
Japan, Chile, Argentine and Italy NJ
Viaud naval constructor of the
French navy, Is at present in Wash
ington on am unofficial mission and will
confer with our naval constructors on