The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18

General de la ROGUE has contributed TO
the last number of the Revue des DeuX
Nondes' a sketch in outline of what he
considers should be Frances naval pro-
.rramme for 1880 The whole keynote of
his article is an impending conflict te-
tween France and England. lnfrequenuy
he assumes that such a war is not only a
certainty. but certainty within very
short time Except in the 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: war with England, an attack
upon England, an invasion 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 year.
All General de la Rocque's comparisons
OF French sea power are based upon the
corresponding efficiency and deficiency
which he fnds in England's marine arma-
ments His verdict is that France has
nothing TO fear. notwithstanding the
enormous numerical preponderance of Eng
lands navy, he believes that the French
warships are better built. better armored.
and better armed than those OF Great
Britain. He believes furthermore, that
the personnel of the French Navy fs SUI
perior to that of the English Navy. He
admits that his article is optimistic, and
yurposely so. as an Offset to the tendency
that prevails IN France. even among
French statesmen, TO look up to England
as the standard in all things pertaining to
the sea, and on the other hand, to ignore
and belittie every French effort in the
same field.
Elements of EnKland's Domination.
''Audacity. pride, and the power OF gold"
he says. "are the real elements OF Eng
lands domination. Thanks TO tendency
natural with us--who are a catholic peo-
pie given to confessing and exaggerating
our errors-we have permitted TO be de-
preciated. insulted. and rendered ineftect-
i've all the maryels of wisdom, science,
good sense. and conscientious labor which
France has not cease to produce, and
which, like all human things, have their
weak points, and are open to criticism
when submitted couragecusly and con-
scientiously TO serious tests"
Taking our own futile bombardment of
san Juan. Porto Rico, as a text, General
de Ia ROGUE says that France has nothing
10 fear from an English naval attack on
any Of her seaports.
In the course Of an inspection We made
at the end of November. 1898, We sad over
and over again that If an English admiral
ever had the crazy idea 10 enter one of our
ports with feet. We could not do better
than 10 furnish him a pilot, keep our bat
teries silent and our torpedo boats out of
sight for fear of frightening him off, and
then, when he was well in the roadstead
let loose our torpedo boats and open on
3 s.s,Nr "a fro
II would be but a few minutes before bat
tleships and cruisers would be annihi-
lated.
The Americans never for an instant
thought OF such a senseless move, either
before San Juan or at the capture of San
tiago. And yet the fire OF the Spanish
batteries was not active, and the guns
which defended the MORO were far from
having the power which protect the har-