IF WAR CAME.
THE MEDITERRANEAN FORCES FRENCH ASSISTANCE DISCUSSED. ADAIIRALS INTERVIEWED. Uy Tclecrapb—Prcs9 Association—j (Roc. February 24, 9.50 p.m.) Paris, February 24. Apropos of tho discussion whether Great Britain, in tho event of war, should arrango for Franco to guard "tlio Mediterranean, Admiral Sir E. R. Fremantle, interviewed by "Le Matin," declared that if her present programme was realised, Franco would bo ablo in 1920 to hold her own against the Austro-Hungarian and Italian fleets combined. Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridgo was also interviewed, and eulogised tho French officers and men. Ho added that tho British Navy was at present equal to tlio German, Austro-Hungarian, and Italian Navies combined.
Amiral llahan in different articles last year laid considerable emphasis in the fact that over four-fifths of tho British battleship force is at present in tnc "Home" and "Atlan'ie divisions, /he Mediterranean fleet has fallen from eleven battleships in 1890 to sjx in 1910, and tlieso of distinctly inferior power. Meanwhilo Austria and Italy havo been 6lcadily increasing their forces. Tho position was ominous of a day when the Mediterranean may pass out of tho sphere of British influence, centred round the British Islands exclusively. "This will symbolise, if it does not at onco accompany, tho passing of tho Empire; for a hostile forco in tlio Mediterranean controls not only an interior line—compared with tho Capo route—but an interior position, from which it is operativo against tho Atlantic as well as in tho East.
Many competent authorities in Franco consider that the menace of Italian and Austrian naval armaments in the Mediterranean is relatively e.s disquieting as tho menaco of tho German Fleet in tho North Sea. Tho Italian and Austrian navies represent tho left wing of tho armed. forces ,of tho Triplo Alliance, of which tlio German Nav.v forms tho right wing. Tho German ships must not bo allowed to penotrato tho htraits of Dover, and tho Austrian and Italian shins must not be allowed past Gibraltar. ~
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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 5
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326IF WAR CAME. Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 5
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