Navies of the world

by Edward W. Very

The French have six foreign-squadron cruising grounds, in which are included the colonial stations. The squadrons are divided as follows:

MEDITERRANEAN.

1st. Squadron of evolutions; consisting of from nine to twelve iron-clads and several despatch vessels, having headquarters at Toulon and cruising throughout the sea. 2d. Station of Algiers. 3d. Levant division, consisting of one or two vessels stationed permanently on the Egyptian and Greek coasts, and generally one cruising division of the squadron of evolutions. 4th. Constantinople station; one or two vessels stationed permanently at Constantinople and the mouth of the Danube.

NORTH ATLANTIC.

1st. Subdivision of Newfoundland and station of St. Pièrre and Miquelon, a small squadron cruising on the fishing grounds. 2d. Division of the Antilles, a small squadron cruising on the United States, Mexican, and Central American coasts. 3d. Three stations of Martinique, Guadaloupe, and Guiana.

SOUTH ATLANTIC.

1st. South Atlantic division, cruising on the Brazilian coast. 2d. Senegal station, on the west coast of Africa.

CHINA SEAS.

1st. China seas division, cruising on the coast of China and Japan. 2d. Station of Cochin China, with cruisers on that coast, Siam, and the Dutch East Indies.

INDIAN SEAS.