Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/296

 built, equipped, and sent to sea in ninety days. Under the new system a nation cannot thus rapidly reinforce its fleet; and when war broke out in 1870 between France and Germany the fleet of the former was unable to effect any serious diversion in the Baltic. There had been some idea at first of landing a French force in that locality under cover of the fleet, but there was no organisation for such an expedition. The opportunity passed, and the squadron despatched to the Baltic could do little more than blockade the coast until recalled home. The crews then assisted in the defence of Paris, and the naval contingent performed excellent service during the siege.

After this war France steadily set to work to augment her fleet. Between 1872 and 1886 several programmes of shipbuilding were drawn up, and no less than £18,000,000 were devoted to new construction. Practically the French fleet of to-day is the creation of the last twenty years, for nearly all the ships launched previously to 1870 have been removed from the list. Unlike ourselves, the French up to that period adhered to wooden hulls, whose life is limited. One or two remain, and among them the 'Marengo,' which as flagship of the Northern Squadron lately visited our shores.

In 1872 was commenced the first large battle ship built after the war. This was the 'Redoutable.' She was built of iron, with a displacement of 9200 tons. Then followed the 'Devastation' and 'Courbet,' of 10,100 and 9700 tons. The armament in all was disposed in the same way: a central battery, with a