ERANOE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 9315, 7 January 1879, Page 3

ERANOE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

The Whitehall Review says we recently alluded to the activity prevailing at the naval yards and arsenals of Prance, and 1 tottje assistance in the equipment of ships and the manufacture of guns which war being quietly obtained from firivate firms. " Another and more certain step .. has, we learn, now been decided upon by the French Government.- This is nothing ; less ,tqan a naval demonstration in the Mediterranean. Tho ironclad fleet to be * , d^patched tinder the command of ViceAdmiral de Dompierre d'Hornoy is such as has rarely, if ever, been assembled by France in any waters, and the uatural cause assigned for the step is that in these days of surprises it behoves France to be prepared- It is certain ,that the annexation of Cyprus by England created a ■ deep sensation throughout France, and it , is said in. official circles that another move in the direction of Egypt is thought not improbable. Ifc is, therefore, resolved that France shall not be compelled to confine herself to diplomatic notes and articles of protest in the public journals, but shall have aome, real and tangible power to add weight to her words should her views be opposed. It will be seen by the following summary of strength of the new Mediterranean fleet of France that the ships are about equal in number and men to the British naval force concentrated at the Eastern end of the Mediterranean. There are no turret^ ships, but the armour plated broadside shipß are ten in number, namely, the Colbert, of 14: guns and 720 men ; Richielieu,l2 guns, and 770 men ; Friedland- 16 guns, 700 men ; Suffren, g guns, 700 men : Nagnanimo, 12 guns, 620 men ; Surveillante, 16 guns, 576 men, Savoie, 13 guns, 576 men ; Provence, 12 guns, 570 men ; Heroine, 14 guns, 570 men ; and the Infernal. 16 guns, 210 men ; giving a total of 133 guns and 6010 men. In addition, there are ten armoured Bhips, some smaller unarmoured vessels, and some despatch boats ; and it is plain that France has no inteniion of allowing herself to lose her present high position as a naval power in Europe.