Page:The Next Naval War - Eardley-Wilmot - 1894.djvu/14

 been remarked that all the newest unarmoured war ships of France had been kept in the home ports. But the intention was, on the outbreak of war, to despatch them in squadrons to various points where they would find isolated British vessels which their superior force would enable them to overcome, and thus taking the enemy in detail, soon diminish the numerical superiority on which we had counted. There were several advantages in this idea. The ships had all the resources of the home dockyards to remedy defects and keep them in the most efficient condition; whereas it had often been found that English vessels when first commissioned, and at once sent abroad, spent several months on arrival under repairs for what should have been ascertained before leaving their ports. Then the French vessels were able to leave at the earliest moment for an unknown destination and without trace of the route taken. Having a clear start, they must arrive before reinforcements could reach the point aimed at. Had they been distributed abroad previously, this country would—as she always has done—have strengthened her foreign station squadrons to a degree consistent with a superiority over any possible enemy.

All the writings of those who have commented upon the failure of France in the past to acquire naval supremacy, attribute it to the pursuit of a false policy in first directing her aim upon territorial attack and ignoring the opposing fleet; or