NAVAL STRENGTH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20954, 6 November 1939, Page 9

NAVAL STRENGTH

BRITAIN AND FRANCE HIGHLY EFFICIENT FORCE MINISTERS IN CONFERENCE (United Pres 3 Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copjrl&nt) LONDON, Nov. 4 The visit to Paris of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Churchill, and his conversations with the French Minister of Marine, M. Campinchi, and the commander of the French naval forces, Admiral Darlan, emphasises the close cooperation between the French and British Navies. The French Navy to-day is a strong, highly-efficient force. It is stronger in every arm than the German Navy, and its composition is peculiarly well suited to combat German methods of sea warfare. Even at the outbreak of war France had seven capital ships in commission, two being fast battle-cruisers of 26,000 tons, armed with 13-inch guns. They are well-suited for dealing with Germany’s “pocket” battleships and were, in fact, built as replies to those ships. France has seven large, fast cruisers mounting eight-inch guns, and 11 six-inch gun cruisers. She has also 32 light cruisers—exceptionally fast ships of about 2500 tons, mounting five 5.4-inch guns. The French destroyer strength consists of 46 modem destroyers, while there are 79 submarines—a slightly greater number than Germany possessed at the outbreak of the war. Formidable Force This fleet, with its large number of auxiliary craft, is a formidable force, which is playing an important part' in the maintenance of Allied sea power. In actual operation, the co-opera-tion of the French and British Navies has been close since the beginning of the war. The French and British Navies have been working in close liaison in the establishment and maintenance of patrols and the provision of convoy escorts, as well as in the prosecution of the offensive against German U-boats, maritime trade, and the capturing of German merchant vessels on the high seas. The capture by a French submarine of the German merchant ship Chemnitz, and the escorting of her into a French harbour, made submarine history. RESULTS OF WAR EFFECTS OF BLOCKADE DANGER NOT AT END REVIEW BY ECONOMIST (United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyrtrtit) LONDON, Nov. 4 The Economist, in an article dealing with the results of the two war months, states that outside of diplomacy, “where the German policy is still paying no dividends,” the war remains an affair of counter-block-ade. In compiling a “balance-sheet” the writer places on the credit side the total merchandise captured. He points out that only 5 per cent consisted of foodstuffs and those of a type not scarce yet in Germany. Also included is the disposition and equipment of the Allied forces and the increase in output of munitions and aircraft. On the debit side is placed the determination with which Britain has contested the seas. Although, the writer states, the Royal Navy has had notable successes in destroying U-boats, the danger is not yet at an end, as is shown by recurrent sinkings. The signs also are that a sharp phase in the air attack has not yet been reached. The writer concludes: “While the struggle goes on we are slowly winning, but we cannot count on a quiet and uniformly successful winter.”