New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
FRENCH SHIPS FOR CHINA
PREPARATIONS AT TOULON AND BREsT
TO SEND REINFoRCEMENTs
Paris, June 21.


Paris June 81.
Great activity prevails at the naval ports of
ToulOn and Brest, where preparations are max
ing a large scale to send ships and men to
the China station The French force already in
Chinese waters on the way there and due at
Taku between June % and July amounts to
1000 men. The force which is to leave France
on two transports on June 20 comprises ZOO
men. At present the naval division of the Far
East, under the command of Rear-Admiral
Courrejolles. is composed of the following yes
sells:
The first class cruiser D Observation-Disclosures
1917 knots 81 officers and 5S3 men; armament
two 24-centimetre guns twelve 14-centimetre
guns twelve 47-millimetre guns and six 31-milli-
metre guns
The Descartes, second class cruiser-Speed, Il
knots; crew, 23 officers and 3I9 men; arma-
ment four 16-centimetre guns ten 10-centimetre
guns eight 47-miIlimetre guns and four 81 -mill-
metre guns.
The Jean Bart, second class cruiser-Speed. ~
knots; crew. 20 officers and 800 men; armament
four 16-centimetre guns, six 14-millimetre guns
fourteen of So and AZ millimetre guns.
The Pascal, second class cruiser-Speed, 1912
knots; crew, II officers and 1863 men; armament
same as that of the Descartes.
The Surprise, gunboat-Speed, 131a knots;
.
millimetre guns, four 65-millimetre guns ana
four 37-milIimetre guns, all rapid firing.
There are also three smaller light draught
French gunboats on the China station. Attached
to this division there are about 40 officers and
$500 men
Three cruisers now at Brest have been selected
70 reinforce Rear-Admiral COurrejoless division.
These are the Guichen the Amiral- Charnier and
the Frant
Cuichen, first class triple screw cruiser OF
$3.50 tons having a speed Of 70 knots She mas
a complement of % officers, and her crew con-
sists Of 517 men. Her armament comprises two
guns Of 164 millimetres calibre six guns OF loo
mlimetres rapid firing ten 47-millimetre
guns and five 37-minimetre guns, all rapid fir
ing and OF the very latest Creusot model.
Amiral Charnier 4,750 ton armored cruiser
having attained on her trial trip sea speed or
nineteen knots. She is commanded by captain
Baehme and twenty officers. Her crew consists
of go men Armament, two 19-centimetre
guns four 14-centimetre guns, four 6J-mllll-
metre guns four 47-millimetre guns all rapid
firing and of latest Creusot model. She has De-
sides six cannon revolvers.
Friant second class cruiser OF 3,IoO TONS
having a speed of 1S1a knots. She will be COM
| manded by Captain Adam and twenty officers
She is TO have crew Of 3J4 The Friant 8
armament will consist of six l64-m1llimetre
guns, four -millimetre guns, eight guns OF 81
millimetres calibre and eleven of 81 mlllime-
tres.
At Toulon the second class cruiser DAssas or
1892 tons and $500 indicated horse power,
| having a sea speed Of nineteen knots and the
second class cruiser Du Chayla, of 3,992 tons
and sister ship to the D'Assas in every capacity
have been ordered to sail shortly for China
The transport vessel Nive and another trans
port chartered from the Messageries Maritimes
COMPANY are held in readiness to carry the
22OO men, including two batteries of artillery
which will embark in a few days for on-King,
to replace troops already sent from Ton-King
to Taku.
The troops under orders for Ton-King consist
Of two mprovsed battalions of marine infantry
Of four companies each. The officers and men
| are selected from the various regiments Of ma
rine infantry. The first battalion is commanded
| by Chef de Battalion Teller, and the COM
| mander Of the second battalion is Major Gaye,
officers Of long experience in colonial warfare,
| both of whom have served in Madagascar and
| Ton-King. Each company will have three or
four bicyclists attached to It. The French blue
Jackets are largely recruited from Brittany.
! prominent feature in the French Navy
| is that of the "Fusilier Marin" who is nva-
! rabIy greeted with a popular ovation at the
| National reviews which take place each year
! at Longchamps July IA. The "Fusilier
Marin does not, as is generally supposed, form
distinct corps but is simply ordinary blue
| jacket selected for proficiency in craftsmanship,
| who is told off to shoulder rifle and. when on
! land. to act a soldier.
Two batteries of light mountain" artillery
! have been formed at Toulon to go with the ex-
! pedtionary force to Taku The batteries of six
! guns each commanded by Major Dupont
| One battery is commanded by Captain Rougy
and the other by Captain Lapebie.