A DECREPIT NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 543, 25 June 1909, Page 5

A DECREPIT NAVY.

' ♦ —; — ■ . ■. ' FRANCE'S DEFENDERS. CUNS THAT THEY DARE NOT FIRE. GERMAN COMPARISON. (By Telegraph.-l'rcsa Association.-Oopyrjffkt.) (Rcc. Juno 24,9,55 p.m.) • Paris, Juno 24. Tho French Navy Commission has made a sensational repgrt. It declares Uiat Franco spent on tho navy 120 million sterling during tho last decade, while Germany spent, a rather less sum; yet Franco, which was the second naval Power d decade- ago, is now fourth, nhd Germany, which was then fourth, is now second. t ':- ■ . . -. This result is due to absence of organisation. Ships have been ordered before their plans w«ro completed. Tho six battleships of the Danton type (French now building) will cost 50 per cent, above the estimates. France has not a single graving dock to accommodate tho Dautonsl ■ Though thp Dentons will bo finished in 1911, the guns and ammunition for them will not be ready tijl 1914 and 1915. Some guns hsvvq been ordered without tho models being tested. The defects-in existing guns have caused so'many accidents that tho .'Mediterranean Squadron has abandoned firing practice. . .'■'.; ' ■■.'. Some of the big guns were worn out after firing 100 rounds. '' . ~''".-.; -'

.. A CATALOGUE OF DEFECTS. Paris advices duted April J2 state:—"Additional details aro being brought to light, wjtli regard to'tho defects on'board several.battle-ships.of-the 15,000-ton Democratic class.. In the cswo of the Democratic herself' material modifications hnvobeen found to be nccesxary in the .disposition of her heavy gunsY Tho position of both, the 'So.sp.in. and the ]9.leui, pins will have to bo altered. According to the "Matin," tho . emplacement of the latter is not on a true level, and during the conrso of tho Easter gunnery practice a Bfcrious accident was very nearly caused" by a misfire. Tho Do-' mocratie has .been ordered to proceed from Villefrapclie to Toulon in order to 1» overhauled. The boiler trouble on board u sister eljip, the Justice,, is ascribed .to. faulty'.group; ing.of the boilers..: Another ship of the snnjo .class, ■- llio- Verito,. has' for the Just'month been without sights for, her 30,5 cm. puns,, According to varipus accounts, ''t|ie-'sighting -apparatus had to be removed ■ because it was grossly' 'defective.-'.. Those "defects are. now being rectified. ■■' - .'. ■' ' '- .' '.'.•. ' ' ■'■';■ ■•■ . '

~■ "The bnttj&ships nro not alone in.their defi. cien'qics, Nonr.ly .every class of vessel in the navy has been found wanting in some respect. In .the case: of the snbinurine Ainpqre, for exiimple,'whichis now under 'construction at Toulon, almost incredible miseulculalions are alleged to have: been made in the design, .with fho result, according to the' "Matin,". , that she has had to be partly taken to pieces ngnin.' In onn of lior storn plntes covering the water' ballast tiiiiks moreover, a crack over 20cm. long was discovered. 'Fresli 'discoveries of a similar kind aro published by .'the-press 'everr morning, and the/public is'earnestly hoping that tho Pqrhnmentnry CgmmiEsion on the navy may be able: to , propose, some'.pra.cti.9al' remedjvfor this deplorabio stitoof affairs. ''Little' or nothing, , however, will come of the .campaign in, favour of efficiency if political conBiuorations ore allowed: to play.any part in the work of reform." ; ; ' . . ■ . ■. : "i.