The Daily Express of Friday publishes a telegram from Cherbourg
declaring that the French Government, "in case of the, in their mind, most probable outbreak of war with England in November," will, some days before the de- claration of war, despatch " a number of ships to be known as the Black Fleet " to sweep the seas " of all British men- of-war they may find." We need not say that personally we entirely disbelieve this cock-and-bull story, but in any case we think the Daily Express greatly mistaken in publishing it. If they seriously believed that there was anything in it they should not have made it public, but should have communicated it to the Intelligence Division of the Navy, where it would have been far more useful undivalged than divulged. To publish can do no good, and may do harm. In our view, the whole of the stories as to a French invasion in November—the event is now apparently looked upon as an "autumn fixture "—are without foundation, and we are making ourselves ridiculous by. dwelling on them. But to hold this view is not to hold that preparation for all eventualities is unnecessary. We would make every possible effort to bring both our sea and our land forces up to the highest point of efficiency. Though the present French Government certainly do not mean to make war on England, they may be succeeded by less sensible men, and we should be ready for all chances, and prepared, if we have to defend ourselves, to make that defence one which will never be forgotten. That is the spirit in which to meet dangers ahead. To publish fantastic stories of "Black Fleets" is not absolutely useless, but, like all crying of " Wolf !" makes real danger when it comes infinitely more dangerous.
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