THE FRENCH NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9487, 17 April 1894, Page 4

THE FRENCH NAVY.

The committee appointed to inquire into the state of the French navy has brought up a report which is likely to produce a profound sensation in France. ►Since the visit of the Russian fleet to Toulon, and the announcement that an alliance had been formed between France and Russia, we have heard a great deal about the French navy, and French naval preparations. Writers of assumed authority have described in glowing terms in the English press the magnificent organisation of the French navy, and have compared it with that of the British navy, much to the disparagement of the latter. Indeed, so vividly has the public mind in England been impressed by what lias been said and written on the subject that the Government have found it necessary to yield to the demands of the nation for a large and immediate increase in its naval defences. That they have acted rightly in so doing no one will of course be foolish enough to question. The British navy must not be permitted to fall behind the navies of foreign Powers. Its supremacy must be maintained at whatever cost. But while admitting . .that the French navy is growing at a rate which England cannot afford to passively ignore, the report of M. Lockroy's committee shows that it is far from being in the complete and perfectly organised condition which the public has been led to believe M. Lookroy reports that investigation has shown that it is in a state of utter disorder, and as little prepared for war apparently as the French army was in 1870. Stores are depleted and the torpedo vessels are unseaworthy. The Magenta ironclad is stated by Admiral Vallon to be liable to capsize at the first impact, and he advises the Government to cease building ironclads. The French people appear to have been living in a fool's paradise about their navy. Now, however, that its true state has been disclosed, we may expect to witness strenuous efforts put forth to put it in order.