THE FRENCH AND THE ENGLISH NAVIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2552, 17 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE FRENCH AND THE ENGLISH NAVIES.

Just as our naval manoeuvres wore brought to a close tho French fleet was mobilised at Toulon, and has since been performing various evolutions. On this side of the Channel there has been a good deal of criticism of the British Navy, but the French Minister of Marine states that ho has been favourably impressed with what the navy of Franco has done during tho last few days. In this contrast we see the difference between t'-:e English and the French. The English people are generally disposed to take a pessimist view of the state of their defensive forces, but the French are now, as they generally are, inclined to regard their navy from an optimist standpoint. Wo know that when war was declared against Germany in 1870 the War Minister assured the Emperor that the French army was ready to tho last gaiter-button;but the experience of tho next few months rather falsified this statement. It may be said, therefore, that there is a natural disposition on tho part of the French to look at the best side of things, while the English disposition is to "pick holes" in everything-. Somo unaccountable delay in tho completion of two war vessels, which is now declared by the Minister of Marine to bo the fault of tho central administration in Paris, does not appear to interfere with tho general satisfaction which the naval manoeuvres have produced; and the Prime Minister has gone to Toulon to join tho Minister of Marine, so that they may together witness tho close of those maiK.euvres. We do not pretend to determine whether tho French fleet has been proved to be in a better condition than that of England ; but what is clear is that neither the French Ministers nor the I'Vet'ch people are inclined to proclaim their weakness to the world, even if it has been proved to exist. If the whole truth were known, wo should probably find that tho French fleet is not really better prepared for war than our own; and we imagiuo the main difference to be that the French arc satisfied with their navy, whi'e we are not.—Home paper.