French Naval Stations.

Manawatu Herald, 24 November 1898, Page 2

French Naval Stations.

The defences of Bizerta 5 the fine French port in Tunis, which is being deepened and made fit for a naval station, are to be improved at once. Bizerta is one of the good things France has snapped up during the last twenty years, for it used to be one of the best harbours in the Mediterranean, and its acquisition by France undoubledly lessened the strategic importance of Gibraltar and Malta. M. Lockroy has big plans for the strengthing of France's postion as a naval power. From Dakar in Senegambia, the most easterly port in Africa, to Fort de France in Martinique, in the West Indies, is the narrowest part of the Atlantic, and if this stretch were patrolled by a squadron, it- would command the trades routes between England and the Cape and South America;" Therefore the defences of Dakar, which are ludicrously ineffective just, now, are to be looked after, and Fort de France is to justify its name by being given two new forts and having its harbour deepened and extended. In case of trouble with America, the latter port would be invaluable to France, especially now that the States command Cuba and Porto Rico. The port of Rachgoum, near Morocco, is to t» " turned into a hornet's nest," sow,, to enable France to still better com : mand the Mediterranean. In Diego Suarez, at the northern end of Madagascar, France has, we learn, all the makings of a second Gibraltar and more, for she is at home in Madagascar. A naval station there would threaten Aden, Bombay and Ceylon, and it is said to be a marvellousjjy strong position, Then oh the other side of the world is Pointe St. Jacques, commanding Saigon, also a strong position, and Noumea has capabilities, though they have yet to b^ developed;