THE FRENCH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 161, 2 August 1909, Page 2

THE FRENCH NAVY.

A DRASTIC RECONSTRUCTION. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrigh ... , , . I'aris, July 30. Vice-Admiral Boue Delapeyere the new l'rench Minister for Marino, n us le . moved_nil heads of departments under the Ministry of Murine and appointed his own nominees. .Such a drastic reconstruction is unprecedented in the l'rench service.

(The French Xavy Commission Inst month made a sensational report. It 'i'iT, tllat s )w'nt 011 the navv 120 million sterling during the last decade, while (ierniany spent a rather less suni; yet I< ranee, which was the second na\al power a decade ago, is now fourth, and Cermanv, which was then fourth, is now second. This result is due to absence of organisation. Ships have been ordered before their plans were completed. The six battleships of the t. v l»' I t''reneii Dreadnoughts) now building will cost ">0 per cent, above the estimates. l'run<-c has not a single graving dock to accommodate tlic,nnntons. Though the Dantons will be (Inisheil in lflll, th<> guns and ammunition for them will not be ready till 1014 and borne guns have ibeen ordered without the models being tested. The defects ih existing guns have caused so many accidents that the Mediterranean Squadron had abandoned firing practice. ■Some of the big guns were worn out after firing 100 rounds.)