New-York tribune., 1901-07-14
LIE BouvEr

The scheme of the French maneuvres is to
make an attack with the Northern Squadron.
supposed TO be acting from Malta a base
upon the arsenal and fortress OF Bizerta, 10 the
development of which immense Importance is
attached. The Mediterranean Squadron is to
endeavor to destroy the attacking squadron
These tactical evoutions are indispensable to
the efficiency of the officers OF the fleet. and are
followed with keen professional interest. But
the feature of the programme that calls forth
severe criticism is the mobilization plan. and the
concentration In the Mediterranean OF the bulk
of the naval forces of the country.
Rear-Admiral Dupont who is recognized
authority on naval strategy, denounces as sheer
folly the principle of maintaining two separate.
and therefore weak, squadrone in the Mediter-
ranean and I'm the Channel, and says that In
case OF war with England the junction of the
two squadrons just accomplished under the
orders of Vice Admiral Gervas would be impos-
sible because the Northern Squadron. consist
ing of slower and less up to date ships. never
would be able to get around the Bay of Bscay
and pass Gibraltar. as TO concentrate in the
Mediterranean Admiral Dupont considers II a
grave blunder TO maintain a squadron in the
Channel and thinks the entire navy should be
held in readiness in the Mediterranean. ''Tou-
Ion and Bizerta,' says Admiral Dupont. ARE the
bases from which ought to be able some day
to reply victoriously TO Malta and Gibraltar
1t Is in the western basis OF the Mediterranean
that our naval destiny must be decided so we
should concentrate all our attention. efforts and
resources upon it,
DUPONT CRITICISEs MINISTER'S.
Admiral Dupont says that the ministers who
have succeeded another the Rue Royale
have been blindly following the routine that has
prevailed for more than a century. and which
consists in supporting the stations of Brest and
Cherbourg solely satisfy the electors Of the
northwestern departments. who would vote
against the government If the petty profits that
the inhabitants of those towns get out of the
fleet were to be interfered with. Admiral Du
pont says that the stations OF the French
navy governed by electoral instead of by
strategical motives. To be sure. he is open
enemy Of the republican form of government
but his views nevertheless have great weight in
professional circles here. He declares that the
movements of each fighting unit of the French
navy in time Of peace regulated by the de-
mands of the various seacoast municipalities
of Normandy and Brittany. Such and such a
ship must pass few weeks in some port simply
because the shopkeepers and petit commerce"
of the port will otherwise withhold their votes
Brest and Cherbourg would raise a terrible out
cry If they did not have their squadrons. just
Toulon does Admiral Dupont considers that
these stations ought TO be abandoned. and with
the exception Of coast guard vessels torpedo
boats and submarine vessels the navy should
be held In the Mediterranean, because neither
the nations financial condition nor the resources
of officers and men justify policy that requires
the maintenance of fleet in the north and one
in the south at the time. England never
would commit the folly of attempting to land
force on French territory. and the concentra-
tion of all the French ships in the Mediterranean
would. after all, be the most effective way of
defending the French seacoast In the north and
northwest c. l. B.