THE FRENCH NAVY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14271, 30 April 1915, Page 3

THE FRENCH NAVY.

WHAT IT IS DOING,

- Tjho French Minister of Marine, M. Augagneur, in the course of a conversation with the Paris correspondent of the United Press of America, which is published as a copyright message by the Exchange Telegraph Company, said: Not another ship shall reach Germany if wo can help it, and I think we can. We have observed from the start the rules of civilised warfare. Germany has broken all, putting herself on thi same plane as savages. Well, we will starve her out. People say that Germany has secretly built many largo submarines, but I know better. I know within two or three exactly how many she haa, and neither England nor France is in tho least frightene-cL Germany may sink a ship now and then—that is inevitable —but in the end what good will it do her? The outcome of the war will not be changed one single iota. Tho threat to torpedo merchantmen is of the same brand as the threats to destroy London and Paris with Zeppelins. What if Zeppelins actually visited Paris or London 1 They might kill one, two, or even three hundred non-combatants, but what of it? The achievement would merely add to their record of savagery, but tho final result would in no way be affected.

Oar Mediterranean fleet is waitiug for the enemy to pick up courage enough to show itself. That is its principal duty; but, since the beginning of the war, our ships have been promenading up and down the Mediterranean, sometimes challenging the enemy at his \ cry door, but each time he sees us coming he turns tail and flees. We havealso done much work in keeping the sea open for the transport of troops from Algeria and of British troops from Suez cast of Gibraltar. Our sailors are in the pink of condition, and spoiling for a chance to meet the enemy. We would not ask for anything better than that the Austrians should give battle at the entrance to the Dardanelles. That is ■what we have been trying to bring about since the war started.

As to tho advance on Constantinople, we shall not give up until the city falls. Wo do not expect to open the Dardanelles without an effort, but we shall get through iv good time. Just how long that will be I cannot say, because it depends on many things. The hardest work will be from the middle of the Dardanelles to the Sea of Marmora. Once through there, which is

merely a question of time, there will remain comparatively little to accomplish.