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

Dor OF BreSt. ChcTbourg and TOulon. The
object Of the Americans before San Juan
/ was TO destroy the MORO and terrorize
! the population. The position taken by the
! American feet was excellent. the town
was surprised, the MORO fort had nothing
! heavier than 16-centimetre guns with
/ which 20 reply to the ironclads, and yet
! after a bombarimeut as violent as posi-
! BILE and continuing for several hours, the
] only result was five or six killed or wound
! ed and a few scratches on Morros walls.
These comparatively recent
facts are of nature 10 impress persons
inclined TO eXaggerate the destructive ef-
fects Of the heavy guns OF modern fleets.
An attack BY warships upon a shore bat
teTy passably well served is beyond any
military reasoning worth moments con
sideration.
For this reason General de la ROGUE
argues that in the war with England the
French fleets viii be called upon TO take
no part in defending seacoast cities for
they viii be abundantly able to take care
Of themselves. Neither does he think that
the navy viii be needed to keep open com
municatiOns for supplies, with all the con-
tinent Of Europe at Frances door for her
TO draw upon by rail In fact. General de
la ROcQue is convinced that the part the
French feet viii play viii be altogether
aggressive and not at all defensive.
English Merchant shipping.
And even from the aggressive pro-
gramme he eliminates one feature that
long has been cherished dream of the
French Anglophobes. In nearly all discus
sions Of war with England the French
have been wont to picture the terrible
havoc their cruisers and torpedo boats
would make with the enormous English
merchant shipping scattered as it is all
over the world. English steamers and
sailing ships loaded with the wheat. -four.
meats tea, coffee and articles OF food
Of all sorts would be swept from the seas.
England which cannot produce enough to
support her own population. would be
starved out.
This at first sight says General de la
ROGUE. seems serious. But If you will
consider that our cruisers. playing thus the
role OF ancient -corsairs. would find on the
seas where they cruised neither bases OF
food nor coal supplies. The question natu-
rally arises as 10 how We are going 10
carry on q warfare Of that kind against a
nation which. on the other hand. has coal
ing and supply stations scattered all over
the world"
No General de la ROGUE does not believe
in the programme OF DISCRIMINATING Eng
lands commerce. His idea is more simple.
The aggressive can and should have for
its object he says holding in check. at
lacking and destroying English fleets Our
wsrships should be able to combat with
those Of our rival and 10 destroy. or put
out Of action, a number of them equal at
least TO our own number thus rendering
possible operations OF another nature-op-
erations which would enable us TO take ad-
vantage Of the superiority Of our land
forces.
Our ships are satisfactory just as they
are and are much superior to
those or our adversary. which English
throughout have English defects as well as
English good qualities The good qualities
are an extremely well-cared- for exterior
majestic appearance. large size and a gen
eral air of comfort and riches. The defects
are o substitution Of commercial sense for
military sense; from which comes dispro-
portion between defensive and aggressive
strength. Upon the finest battleships. he
very latest built. the protective armor is
lacking where il is Indispensable, and
superintendent where 1t is useless.
The aggressiveness is represented upon
badly protected cruisers by enormous guns
and upon cruisers that are well protected |
by guns that are very weak. The artillery |
throughout is Of medium quality from ey- |
cry point Of view"
Il is the melinite shell that French naval |
officials are counting upon TO reach the |
yitals Of the Unprotected English battle |
ships, and General de la ROGUE quotes the |
London Engineer in support OF this hope. |
The Engineer" says:
We must now admit Notwithstanding |
the repugnance which certain naval Off |
GERS feel toward having them on board. |
that high explosive shells are destined to |
come into more and more general uses |