Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-09
FRANCE NAVY
LEARNS VALUE
OF HIGH Speed
tBy Latest Mail

by Latest MALL -,
PARIS, France. - During the frs
week of the French naval maneuvers
the ''B" fleet. consisting of French
squadron, was in the port of Toulon
the latter being blockaded by an "a
fleet representing the enemy, which
vas of much superior force. The 81
fleet was under orders to proceed tc
Bizerta. In. doing this it could fino
shelter at Ajaccio If followed, other
wise it had to proceed direct to the
former port.
The "Bp fleet, commanded by Vice
Admiral MaEinrD arbel, consisted OF
four warships and three cruisers, and
had attached to it two squadrons oil
destroyers and squadron of hydro
planes. The "A" squadron, command
ed by Vice-Admiral de Marbles, con
sisted of IL warships and squadron
of destroyers for scouting purposes
The naval arbitrator was Vice-Admi
raj Boue de Lapeyrere.
At a very early stage of the game
the hydroplanes were rendered prao
tically useless and were consequently
no longer a factor "B" fleet succeed
ed in leaving the port of Toulon even
in full moonlight on the same even,
Jig that the hostilities were opened
: he destroyers of the "B' fleet were
seen by those of the "a fleet, but
the very heavy sea that was running
prevented them from coming into con
tact and 'sB" fleet escaped during the
evening.
"A" fleet then entirely lost sight OF
b. fleet for several days. The rails.
ing of the blockade of Toulon through
the escape of the "B" fleet with its
old, slow and feeble ships taught a
foroible lesson to the French navy,
namely, that the "a" fleet. consisting
Of Dantons and Patries, vessels OF
quite modern type with great super.
iority both in number, strength, and
speed, was unable to command Tou.
ION and that part of the Mediterran.
can ito the west of its line of defense
After leaving Toulon "B'' fleet skirt.
ed the cost of Provence making for
the port of Bizerta instead Of taking a
direct line. Had this feet possessed
ships of the same speed as the enemy
1t could have gone straight for Ri.
zerta, without any risk of being over
taken. This, however, was impossi-
BILE for its average speed was not
more than is knots, and il was con
sequeftly obliged to gain its destina-
ton by tactics rather than speed.
"A" feet having completely lost
sight of "B' feet then proceeded to
Bizerta to await the arrival of the
latter, which arrived in the night
when they fought battle lasting
some two hours. Vice Admiral Boue
de Lapeyrere witnessed the battle
from the Voltaire, and finally gave
the order to cease firing.
The decision of the arbitrator was
in favor of the "B'' feet, it being
recognized that the car fleet lacked
sufficient number of fast cruisers to
enable it to maintain the blockade.
The general opinion is that the French
fleet must be considered inefficient,
and one of the naval authorities stat.
ed that it will remain so until it pos
sesses vastly more speed in all
branches of the service
n
Passed Derelict-No Survivors.
A sixty-foot Japanese fishing boat
floating as a derelict 400 miles east of
Yokohama, was sighted by the Brit
ish bark Calcutta which recently ar.
rived at the coast. According to Cap
tain Davies the small craft had been
overwhelmed during typhoon and the
crew were probably washed over
board. Davies managed to run his
command alongside and investigated.
The helpless craft was badly water
logged. During several typhoons
which ragged along the coast of China
and Japan about a month ago hun
dreds of fishermen persisted The
Calcutta was loaded with ballast to
the Standard Oil Company and made
the passinge in the fast time of 301s
days.
Stiff Fines for Vessel Masters.
Honolulu harbor commission is not
alone in the contention that vessel
masters reduce speed in entering the
harbcr to take UP berth at the ter
ritorial wharVes. Masters of some
of the larger passenger carrying
steamers entering Los Angeles will
be served with warrants charging
them with violation of port regula.
tons governing speed of vessels en-.
tering the harbor If found guilty the
captains are liable to a maximum fine
of $500 or Imprisonment for 200 days,
or both.
N PISSPNCPpS RO0VPD