Furthermore—and this is the most significant part of M. Millet's
article—the recent inquiry shows that the problem will not be solved by merely building a few battleships. "The whole Naval Department has to be reorganised," and then "the House will have to pass an organic law in order to suppress all the fluctuations of the previous programmes," and to fix the French naval programme for fifteen or twenty years. Such a programme, according to M. Millet, has been recommended by the Superior Council to the Navy, and comprises forty-five battleships, twelve cruiser-scouts, sixty squadron destroyers, eighty-four destroyers for coast defence, and sixty-four sub- marines,—to be completed by 1925. M. Millet admits that the financial difficulties are numerous and formidable, but "financial difficulties are never final in a matter of national defence. France has to set herself to work at once, if she wants to do at the same time her duty to herself and her duty to her neighbour."
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