Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-28

Paris, Dec. 27.-(By The A P)-l
Frances determination to have a pow
erful feet and. objections to the lin1ita-
ton offers Of the Washington conference
were vigorously voiced in the senate to-
day during a discussion of the marine
section of the governments budget
Senator Henry Berenger, who reported
the marine budget, said France was at a
decisive turning point. rs France stii
Independent in her navy as in her
army?" he asked Has the old prin-
ciple of sovereignty been sacrificed some
what in those conferences wherein we
have been promised a sort of interna-
| tionale of happiness?'
Senator De herguezeo defended the
submarine as an essential weapon of
defense, but wished 10 be confined TO
military uses instead of being applied to
| torpedoing commerce. AT the Washing
ton conference" he said. Eve were sur
prised to see the French delegation ID
mand 100000 tons of capital ships when
France does not desire to carry war into
| foreign waters. France desires no i'm
perialism, but II we found Admiral De
| Bon's proposal starange there are. nev-
ertheless. limitations which we cannot
accept"
Senator De Kerguezeo declared It was
impossible that the French delegation
at Washington had said that subma rines
would he used to destroy the nemy's
commercial fleet. He explained the nee
essity of submarines in defending the
coast and il transportation Of supplies
for troops.
Minister Of Marinr Guisthau. replying
to Senator De Kergdezeo. said he was
greatly effected by the remarks abou;
the Washington conference. but he as
serted Nothing has been proposed that
reduces Frances power" Moreover. fe
declared. no decisions reached at Wash
ington would be effectiv1 until the
French parliament had approved them
He explained that the naval programme
was reduced through lack Of money but
that a defensive programme was pre-.
pared providing for the utilization oi
the commercial feet.
| Senator Berenrer severely criticised
the condition Of the navy. and other sen.
ators joined with him in urging speedy
reforms. Senator BerenEer described tht
central naval administration as being
"in a state of what 1 term arterioscle
ross.'
Preceding the debate over the nava
budget, the naval commission had pub
lished a resolution urging the minister
Of marine to increase the number o'
submarines so as TO adequately defent
the coast line, ~ view Of the present
| weakness OF the navy, Wnlcn Vas SirFssS
ed during the discussion in the senate
The concluding paragraph Of the ma
val commissions resolution was as fol
; lows:
zone cannot conceive, therefore. tha
Frances efforts IN this direction should
be obstructed Of limited. II Is ques
ton of national independence and Of th'
, right of legitimate defense that is a
state" The resolution was adopted IL
connection with the naval commission
report on its programme, based on TIVE
principles: That the French navy mus
always be superior to the Germany nav
, and sufficiently supreme in the Mediter
ranean to safeguard interests in Nortl
Africa and the Near East.
The naval commissions report credit
France with having forty-nine subma
rines. Of which fifteen. it is declared
, will be obsolete by 1925. These arc 4
be replaced only by twelve provided +
the present programme. although twenty
, four others are scheduled for the indef
: mite future The commission suggest
! two groups OF undersea craft. one 70 b
composed Of short range and the o'hc
/ of long range submarines. the late
group being for pursuit of enemy com
merce. pursuit of pirates and OF ligh
| enemy cruisers"