FRENCH NAVY PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15646, 27 June 1914, Page 9

FRENCH NAVY PROGRESS

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HIJIORE SIiPER.DREADNOUCiHTS. f POSITION THOUGHT GOOD. ;'■ SEA ROUTES SECURE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received Juno 20, 5-45 p.m.) Paris, June 25. The Naval Estimates provide for four super-Dreadnoughts to be completed by 1920. At present Franco possesses sufficient naval strength to provide security for transport between Africa and France, and also to prevent Germany obtaining oversea food supplies through Italy. TALLY OF DREADNOUGHTS. Tho tally of French ships of the Dreadnought type, either in commission or in process of being built, is as followsTho ("ourbet and Jean Bart, 23,095 tons, 20 knote. 12 I2in and 22 5.5 in guns, completed ; Franco and Paris, of the samo type, completed; tho Provence, Bretagne, and Lorraine, sister-ships, of 23,177 tons, armed with 10 13.4 in and 22 5.5 in guns, launched during 1913; four battleships, the Normandie, Langnedoc, Flandre, and Gascoigne, laid down at the beginning of this year. The lattor are designed to carry 12 13.4 in puns in three quadruple turrets on a displacement of 24,830 tons. It was also decided vo lay down a new battleship, tho Vendee, of the Bret-agno type, on January 1, 1914, so that there will be four instead of three of these vessels in service by 1916.