THE FRENCH NAVY.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 July 1919, Page 5

THE FRENCH NAVY.

._.__o.., . NOW’ ON PEACE FOOTING. Following the signing of the armistice the French Minister for Marine, gave orders for the domobilisation of the French naval forces as speedily as possible. All the war crews of the submarines have been sent home and the buildings requisitioned by the Ministry 1-creased. _The dcmoblisation of the navy is proceeding‘ on parallel lines with that of_tlle_al-my. All nien of the 1907-1908, classes who are being demobilised ‘ have been sent to the depots at six nénfal ports. Men belonging. to tl;e‘_"'l9o6'and previous classe havealxueady" been demobilised. The French naval forees are once

more on a peace 'footing_ Four cruisers and two battleships have been disarnied, three cruisers and three cruisers and three battleships ‘placed on the reserve, and three cruisers and four battleships have been’put on a peace footing. Nineteen units have been brought back to France from Bizerte. Four batleships, 38‘ destroyers, eight torpedo boats, and 23 submarines Will be relegated to the re—serve. One hundred and seventy-seven vessels, which ‘have been patrolling trade routes, have been disarmocl and placed in the reserve}. Mine-svieeping operations on the French and African coasts are still’ eihplojring 361 Vessels and 10,000 men.