FRANCE IN A WARLIKE MOOD

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 56, 8 March 1899, Page 5

FRANCE IN A WARLIKE MOOD

ALLEGED INTERVIEW WITH M

LOCKROY.

LONDON, February 4.

An alleged interview with the French Minister of Marine. M. Lockroy, published in a Rome paper, has created considerable stir in some quarters in London, as it is held to show that Prance has in nowise buried the hatchet, but is detei-mined to attack Great Britain at the first opportunity.

People here, however, can hardly credit the veracity of the interview, in which M. Lockroy begins by describing the British naval organization as being 'all humbug' aud saying: 'The English have only the brutal force of numbers.'

The Minister of Marine is also quoted as declaring that war with Great Britain is inevitable, and he is said to have added in consequence: 'Let England continue to construct big warships. Our naval programme is steel-plated, powerful, swift cruisers, torpedo boat destroyers, and submarine boats.'

The British newspapers have apparently taken these utterances seriously and'are urging the government to reply .'to words with deeds.' These French menaces seem to accord with confidential information to the effect that military and naval circles here are convinced that France means war. Secret advices, it appears, have been received at the British War oflice showing that the French authorities are noiselessly preparing for a struggle. In fact, it is even said the Napoleonic idea of an invasion of Great Britain is revolving in the minds of the French military authorities, and, at the present moment, a gradual but silent movement of troops is said to be proceeding towards the northern coast of France, where, in two months' time, it is asserted about 150,000 men will-be concentrated.

The British war authorities are determined not to wait France's convenience, but. to call her hand, as they did in the Fashoda incident, and will declare that they regard this concentration of troops as an act of war.

In the meantime, the British navy is paying the greatest attention to gunnery. The channel squadron this week has been engaged every morning in firing practice at moving targets. The results are being carefully noted.