READY FOR THE NEXT WAR.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2645, 11 September 1906, Page 7

READY FOR THE NEXT WAR.

It seems hardly possible that France would ever join Germany in an attack upon Great Britain, but Mr. G. J. Shaw-Lefevre—an exCabinet Minister —has compiled an up-to-date atatement, showing how Great Britain would stand if oi>posed by the two greatest Continental naval Powers. The real strength of the French Navy he says, consists of 21 battleships (219,000 tons), 15 armoured cruisers. (148,000 tons), and 43 torpedo destroyers. The real fighting strength of the British Navy (including four battleships and five armoured cruisers, which in June last are nearly completed)consi.sts of 56 battleships of 769,000 tons, and 24 armoured cruisers, of 280,000 tons, and 162 torpedo destroyers. The British ships are very far superior in size, strength, speed, and armament, and the superiority of England over both France and Germany combined is enormous. She might put into line against the Gormen Navy battleship for battleship, and armoured cruiser against armoured cruiser, and still have remaining over more than twice as many, battleships, and three times as many grmoured cruisers of infinitely greater power and strength, against which Germany has absolutely nothing to show. France's Army on a war footing numbers 3,500,000 men ; Germany's 4,000,000 ; Great Britain, Including the Indian Army, but excluding Volunteers and Militia, 372,000 men.