New-York tribune., 1901-07-07
PARIS.
THE FRENCH NAVAL MANEUVRES-SUB- B.
MARINE TORPEDO BOATS.
WHEAT CROPS IN FRANCE AND RUSSIA
SOCIAL DoINGs OF THE WEEK.

Copyright: 1901: BY The NeW--Yor6 TrbuneD
IBY CABLE TRIBUNE.l
Paris. July 6.-Never before has France as
sembled in Mediterranean waters so formidable
a feet as that composed of the united squadrons
of the North and the Mediterranean. which.
under the direction of Vice-Admiral Gervais, is
executing mannuvres between Gibraltar and
Bizerta. This great French arsenal and fortress
in the opinion of foreign and impartial naval ex-
perts here. is far more up TO date and efficient
in respect to armament and equipment than
either of its British rivals, Gibraltar or Malta
The feet under Admiral Gervais's command con-
sists OF forty-three ships. every one OF which is
stated TO be thoroughly efficient and fully
manned Besides twelve torpedo destroyers and
one torpedo supply ship. there are fifteen battle
ships five armored cruisers and seven protected
cruisers 1t is significant that the British Medl-
terranean squadron, under Admiral Fisher. at
the present moment could muster only ten pat
tleships In time of war Admiral Gervais would
have supreme command of the French navy. Of
which he has. become the veritable idol Eye
witnesses say that a most imposing sight was
presented when, at 9 o'clock on the morning OF
June % the popular admiral arrived or Alslers
on his flagship, the Bouvet. and hoisted his flag
while a salute of fifteen guns was fired and the
hlueiackets of the whole fleet manned batteries
and shouted four times in unison the new bat
The scheme Of the manouvres which are now
in fuu swing is that an enemy, which is repre-
sented bv the French Northern or Channel
SQUADRON hearing at Tanger Of the outbreak OF
war endeavors to effect a junction with the
squadron of an allied power, which is at that
moment at La Maddalena. The French Meet
represented ty the French Mediterranean
Squadron, tries to prevent this union of two hos
tile divisions. Such are the broad outlines OF
the work which is TO be done during the next
seven DAYS Naturally, however. the French
ships which play the part of the squadron whch
the one at Tangier is endeavoring to join are not
at la Maddalena. but at Ajaccio. They were
the battleships Charles Martel and Jauregul-
berey and the cruisers Lavosier ana Duhhols'
In order TO make the whole thing more reahsuc
and 10 put all the arrangements Whlch nave
been lately carried out to a practical test the
sntire French system of offence and defence in
the Mediterranean was set going. All the guard
ships along the southern coasts of France, as
well as on the coasts of Corsica. Algeria and
Tunis have been nobilized. and all the intelll-
kl sence services utilized by the Mediterranean
snuadron doing duty for the French meet
Everything that could contribute TO prevent the
junction of two hostile fleets was brought into
full play The interest which attaches to this
scheme is enhanced by the fact that II is ex-
actly what is expected to occur in the eVen'
of war with England, When all ndNdl sIidecsi0''
agree that the decisive battle would be fought
not in the Atlantic, but in the Western Medl-
terranean.
There is great enthusiasm throughout france
o,er The brilliant success of the little submarine
hoat GIstave Zede, which started from Toulor
and managed to slip into Ajaccio harbor unop'
served lust as the naval division was getting
under way and hit with dummy torpedo the
battIeship Jaureguibercy as 1t was leaving Inc
roadstead with the Charles Martel, preceded by
n cruiser destroyer and several torpedo boats
This happened daybreak. A brisk fire was
Immediately opened, while the torpedo boats
searched for the enemy, but the Gustave Zeds
remained submerged and invisible until her pres
ence was revealed by her hitting second ship
the Charles Martel, with another dummy tor
pedo.
The naval man9uvres have already caused
widespread and genuine satisfaction. Implicit
confidence is expressed in naval circles at the
efficiency of submarine craft. The popular feel
ing is such that, in spite of socialist opposition
there seems little doubt that the enormous nava
budget for 1902 will be approved by the Cham
vais as was the case after the Cronstadt demon
stration some years ago, is more the hero
OF the hour.
The damage TO the wheat crop by thunder
8 storms in Central France is not considered seri-