The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-11
PLAN TO INVADE ENGLAND.
4 French NIJ,iL PROGRIWNE TOE
4 WAR ~ 1906.
Gen. de la ROGUE Outlines n scheme of
Attack Upon Great Br~itain-Frrnch
ships to Clear the Way for iordes of
soldiers - BattleShips the Keynote.

Gen. de la Rocque Outlines n scheme of
Attack Upon Great B~ritain-Frrnch
ships to Clear the Way for Hordes of
soldiers - BattleShips the Keynote.
zen de Ia ROGUE has contributed TO the last
number Of tie RerLe dcS DcuI MORdes a sketch in
outline Of what he considers should he Frances
naval programme for 1900. The whole keynote
OF his article is an impending conflict between
France and England luferenually he assumes
that such n war Is not only Il certainty, but a GER
tainty within a very short time. Except in tie
most casual way, the possibility Of a struggle
with any other country is hardly mentioned. Eng
land Is the enemy, England Is the power with
which France must measure her strength; q war
with England, an attack upon England. an inva-
sion Of England, Ireland and Egypt these are
the central points toward which all French energy
and activity must converge IN the naval pro-
gramme Of the current veal.
All Gen. de- la Rocquo's comparison, ofTrrnch
sea power are based upon the corresponding eff
cheney and deficiency which be- find, m Engiand's
marine ornaments. His verdict is that France
has nothing to fear. Notwithstanding the pncr.
nous numerical prnpondorance Of England's
navy, he believes that the French warshipS are
better built better armored and better armed than
those Of Great Britain. lie believes, furthermore,
that the personnel Of the French navy IS superior
to that IT the English navy, lie admits that his
article IL optimistic, and puTposely SO, aS an offset
to the tendency that prevails in France, even
among French statesmen, 10 look W to England
as the standard in all things pertaining 10 the sea,
and, on the other hand, to ignore and beut'ls
every French effort in the same field.
"Audacity, pride and the power of gold" lie
says, ARE the real elements Of England domino
ton. Thanks to a tendency natural with rs
who are n catholic people given Ia CoufcNSiug and
eyaggeIaung our errors We have permitted To- b'
deprecated, insulted and rendered Ineffective
all the marvels of wisdom, science, good sense and
CONSCIENTIOUS labor which rance Las rot 'raS,l
10 produce. and which, like all human things,
have their weak points, and are open To criticism
when submltted courageously and cousceuuJusly
~ serious tests
Taking Our own fuuI, bombarlmeut Of san
Juan, Puerto Rico, as . text, ten de Ia Roclue
argues that rance has nothing to fear from an
English naval attack On any Of her soap,ftS
In he course Of IN In: pc,lon We made ut tie
end Of NoNember, 1895, We said over ana over again
that II an English Admiral ever had tie cfaly
idea TO enter one of our ports with a feet. We could
not do better .han furnish him a pilot, keep our
batteries silent and our torpsdo boats cut Of sight
Tor fear Of iriEhtcninE him ui, and then, Wien
he las well in the roadsteJd. let loose uar turprtl
boats and open on HIM with a ,r.,, nr. from I.a
Qualifications II would be hui q lew minute,
before battleShipS and cruisers worlu be- ANN
hilated.
The Americans never fur en- ,,.taut thought
NJ such a senSelrsS move, ell Z h'. r. San ,l..u
or at the capture ut santiago \ll set the ir,
u the Spanish batteries Was not active, and t..
guns which defended the MORO we're Tar nom
having the power Oi those which protect Tie hlf
bors VI l3rest, (herbDurr anu Tuulua The ub.
jeCt Of the Americans before San Juan ua, 10
destroy the Moro and %terrorir the population.
The pDSluu taken by the American 'rrt vas
excellent the town was surprised, the MORO
fort had nothing heavier Than Us Genuine o. guns
with which to reply 10 the lrpnc,1d~, aud yet,
Htter a bombardment as violent a, possible and
continuing for several hours, the only result was
five or slx killed or wounded and a lcN S@,JatDu,S
IN the Morro'S walls.
. These comparatively recent facts are
Vt a nature To impress parsons inclined 10 rNng
gerate the Destructive effects Of the hraSy guns
Il modern fleets. An attack by WarNhlps upon
y shore battery paSSably well served Is beyond
any military reasoning worth a moments CT.
sderatlnn."
For TINS reason Gen. de Ia ROGUE argues that
In the war with England the French fleet, will
he called upon N take no part in defending sea-
coast cities, for they will b. abundHntly able 10
take care Of themselves Neither does he think
that the navy will be needed To keep open commu-