OUR NAVAL WEAKNESS.
Respecting the wava! power of France and England, the Scientific American says : —*• A comparison of the British with the French fleet shows that each contains just 30 first-class war vessels. In point of thickness of armour and weight of guns, two of the English are superior in offensive power to any on the French list. But in the next 17 on each list the French are superior to the English, and in the whole list the French are superior in 24, and the English only in 12. Besides this, the English discarded breachloading cannons in the construction of their fleet, on the ground that muzzleloaders are easier to manage at sea. The French and the other Continental powers adopt the breech-loaders, which are capable of swifter and more effective handling. Taking the two navies throughout, it appears that England is far from possessing that preeminence on the sea which she did in the days when her ‘ wooden walls ’ were her glory and her defence. Even Italy and Germany might now challenge comparison with her.’
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Temuka Leader, Issue 1121, 3 January 1884, Page 3
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177OUR NAVAL WEAKNESS. Temuka Leader, Issue 1121, 3 January 1884, Page 3
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