THE MISTRESS OF THE SEAS.

Evening Star, Issue 10767, 31 October 1898, Page 2

THE MISTRESS OF THE SEAS.

This is from a Paris paper:—"ln three years England will be able to put in line forty-five first class ironclads and eight armored cruisers, or a total of fifty-three vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 753,500, all new vessels with formidable armaments. In three years we Frenchmen shall possess the ironclads Baudin, Bouvet, Duperre, Carnot, Brennus, Charlemange, Charles 3tartel, Courbet* Devastation, Formidable, Gaulois, Hoche, Henry IV., Jaureguiberry, Magenta, Marceau, Massena, Neptune, St. Louis, lena, and two or three others to be put on the stocks this year. To this list should be Added the four coastguard vessels of the Indomitable type and our thirteen armored cruisers. That will make up a total of fortyone vessel with a total tonnage of 365,000; that is to say, inferior by half in tonnage of the British vessels. It'must also be remembered that in time of war the English will have at their disposal the innumerable ships composing its merchant nwvy to furnish auxiliary cruisers, transports, and crews, whereas we Frenchmen are from that point of view terribly inferior. It may be said that in three years the French naval forces will be equal to about two-fifths of the English fleet. Now let us admit, what is pretty well correct, that the united fleets of Russia, Germany, Italy, and Austria would equal the other three-fifths of the English fleet, and the conclusion we wish to draw is evident. In three years, thanks to the measure voted the other day, after Mr Goschen's speech, England will be in a position to resist, victoriously and alone, all the naval forces of Europe coalesced against her, admitting that such a coalition could ever exist. England has in her hands all the carrying trade ;she has laid hands on all the finest colonies in the world, and possesses coaling stations in every corner of the globe. She has now, with her gold and in her firm determination to preserve her naval and commercial superiority, placed herself in a position to preserve both, whatever may happen, and whatever may be attempted againit.her. That is what a great many people, wisely governed, have been able to accomplish in less than thirty years; that is to say, since 1870. We should do well to meditate on that example." _, . ■ •-' -