The New York herald., 1922-01-01
EXPERT ANALYZES
FRENCH NAVY CLAIM
Her Submarines Can Maintain
Balance of Power in
Europe.
SEES CHECK TO BRITISH
Possibility of a Latin Alli-
ance in Mediterranean
Considered.


BY eraser RNsHTEIMER.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. 81.
With the ratio for the three great ma
tions virtually settled France has
opened a. seam in the Hughes proposals.
However. the more exact estimates of
the situation, based on the three Power
arrangement. show that Frances claim
for sea power is only natural and de-
serving of support The French claim
for tremendous capital shrp tonnage was
impossible. because it was certain that
that nation could not build up to it, but
it must be recognized that France
should have adequate sea protection.
The analysis of Engiand's position un-
der the big three naval settlement holds
the key to her opposition to Frances
claims. France recognizes capital ships
as the backbone of all naval power and
so her first claim was for great capital
ship tonnage Being forced from this
position she had to adopt a purely de-
fensive one and one which she really
could afford to take
England is supreme In her home
waters with her great fleet of 604, 1000
actual and 67S.000 potential tons, as
against $4,000 tons. both actual and
potential, for the United States. Japan
can be discounted when dealing with the
British because she is too far away to
be a factor in the defence of the British
Isles.
Superior French Position.
Frances position is far superior TO
that of Germany for submarine war
on England. The French naval base at
Calais gives France three very great
advantages: First. it gives access to the
North Sea: second. 1t gives her the
power to block the Straits of Dover at
will. and third, 1t allows her to menace
the entire British coast from Dover TO
the mouth Of the Thames to Scotland.
The French bases at Dunkirk. Cher
bourg. Brest and lie Havre enable
France to send submarine almost di-
rectly into the British south harbors
and gives absolutely free access to the
entire Atlantic, in great contrast to
Germanys position, hemined UP in the
North Sea. Such advantages would
have won the war for Germany before
the United States could have even fairly
entered the struggle. From Toulon.
Corsica and Algeria France could block
both the Suez and Gibraltar and in this
way England would be entirely sewed
up. OF course. the British object to
French submarine totals.
The next sphere OF British interest to
be protected. in order of Importance. is
of course, the route to India and the
East. To be exact. this. route is from
the British home ports south through the
Atlantic TO Gibraltar and through the
MEDITERRANEAN se3. Through the Shez
Canal and the Red Sea and to Aden.
This route is the most important artery
of the British Empire. For years Eng
land has struggled to hold il with her
fleets and forts. The most important
points of British control are. of course,
Gibraltar. Malta, the Suez and Alden
These bases with the fleet. which the
Hughes proposals allow, give England
the dominance OF the Mediterranean.
Threat OF Latin Alliance.
But this route is menaced in many
ways. First, by French submarines in
the Atlantic: second, by French fleets In
the Mediterranean. and, third, by naval
combination between France and Italy
One of our greatest statesmen has al
luded to France and Italy as natural
allies, when speaking on the subject, and
the appeal of Viviani at the. unveiling of
the statue of the great Dante Alighier
was a proof of his statement.
The French fleet. from capital ships
TO submarines, could be adequately
taken care of at tho bases at Toulon,
Bizerta, Oran and Algiers. The Italian
fleet has bases at Naples, Spczia, Tar
anto and various other ports in the
Adriatic and the Mediterranean. While
Malta and the other British naval sta
tions could hold out almost indefinitely
against attack. their value TO the British
would be almost nothing. especially II
a large enough British force could not
yet through the Dardanelles because of
enemy submarines
In the event of war between France
and England. should a British fleet at
tempt to dominate the Mediterranean. it
Is almost certain that Italy would an
swer the call OF her Latin neighbor
And it Is TO guard against such an
event that the British will have TO main
after the conference. This fleet will
probably approximate $4,000 tons Of
capital ships The reason for establish
ing such feet in the Mediterranean
Is perfectly clear. It could get out OF
tho Mediterranean In the event of war
with an outside nation. but 1t could not
get in to the Mediterranean in the event
of war with France or Italy.