FRENCH SUBMARINES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 716, 15 January 1910, Page 10

FRENCH SUBMARINES.

The 'condition:. of, : the .French'. Navy,' since attention "was. called to the. lament-, able• state ;to: which .it has; been.'allowed to.lapse, is likely under tho'Briand.Alirii-: Istry to-be;materially improved; -Franco is evidently.beginning-to strengthen her, naval forces in-the .Channel!-, which >bf recent'years "had been deploted in favour of the Mediterranean, 'and,.it is. to" be noted that in disposing of submarines,'the. tactical value, of which is ; enhanced'•; by the narrowness of the seasih. which, they' operate,' the Government is'sending ; an' offensive'idivision of. three submarines; of the latest typo to, the "how Calais.station, considered, as .one of the-pillars,; of ;the North Sea. gates.. ■-:' .'.-. : '.'.'•;''."•/■ ■ '..-'V.-.'''. •'■". The ."Debats," in'-treating the subject, says that.normally tho defensive division, at,'Calais.:is. to : consist of;:. three,' submarines. The Minister, of. Marino is anxious,, i adds tho ':"D<sbats,'''. to'-hasten . the distribution of French submarines in conformity- :with thoir strategic .role.. Little; bv little he is moving them to their new destination's..-.' Thoy> are to.: be grouped, ac-.. cording to their' tactical -faculty and their "radius of action in offensive divisions with a: long radius,. and i dofonsivo: divisions •limited to' the vicinity-of.tho base.\Tho vessels, it is stated, are; to ibe disposed of on the following lines:—At the Calais 'now station thero will be' three ■ submprsiblos,. and at Cherbourg- two, offensive groups of tho smaller category., of. submarines, which are shortly to.be rep)need by larger vessels of the Archimedes typo. BrestTs also ; to have anew station with an offensive and defensive group,-, whilst; at La Pnllico there is to bo installed a ■defensive group of two 70-ton vessels. •; At Toulon the defensive division wilKbo similar-to that nt La Pallico, the offensive division consisting of. .different types. At :■ Bizerta •.there is', to •bo a defensive group of six vessels, the'ofTonsivo division remaining 'unchanged. . The; now Oran station is to have an offensive group of 'three vossols of tho Fructidor, typo. Tho 'remainder of- Franco's subninrino: forcewill be engaged in trials or held in reserve. -This frosh grouping of craft, it is pointed out, is founded upon tactical qualities' and : radius' of action. '•,' :