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

General de 10 ROGUE has contributed Il
tbe last number Of the Revue des DeuS
Nondes" a sketch in outline Of what he
considers should be Frances naval pro
rrsmme for 1890. The whole keynote Of
his article is an impending conflict te-
tween France and England. lnfrequenuy
he assumes that such war is not only a
certainty. but a 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: a Nar with England, al attack
upon England. an invasion OF England,
ireland. and Egypt-these are the central
pciuts toward which all French energy and
activity must converge in the naval pro-
gfamme Of the current year.
All General de la Rocque's comparisons
Of French sea power are based upon the
corresponding efficiency and deficiency
which be hnds IN Englsnd's marine srma-
ments. His verdict is that France has
nothing 10 fear. notwithstanding the
enormous numerical prepcnderance OF Eng
lands navy he believes that the French
varships are better built. better armored
and better armed than those OF Great
Britain. He believes, furthermore. that
the personnel OF the French Navy is SUI
perior to that OF the English Navy. He
admits that his article is optimistic, and
gurposely 50. as an Offset TO the tendency
that prevails in France. even among
French statesmen 20 look up to England
as the standard in all things pertaining to
the sea- and on the other hand, to ignore
and belittle every French effort 10 the
same field.
Elements of EnKIand's Domination.
"Audacity, pride. and the power Of gold. d"
be says. are the real elements OF Eng
lands domination. Thanks TO a tendency
natural with us-Who are a catholic poo
PIE given to confessjng and exaggerating
our errors-Re have permitted 10 be de-
preciated iusulted and rendered iueffect-
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 10 criticism
when submitted courageously and CON
scieutously TO serious tests"
Taking our own futile bombardmeut 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
al the end Of November. 1898, We said 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 TO furnish him a pilot, keep our bat
teries silent and our torpedo boats out Of
sight for fear Of frightening him Of. and
then. when he was well ia the roadstead
let loose our torpedo boats and open on
him with a crOss-fTe from the Notifications.
II would be but few minutes before bat
tleships and cruisers would be annihi-
lated.
The Americans never for an instant
thought OF such 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-