French naval programme according to the Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag: kleine courant dated 8 June 1909

The French newspaper Temps reported in an item dated 7 June that the Supreme Navy council decided that the French navy should have 45 battleships. The actual service of a battleships was to be 20 years. Of the nowadays existing battleships were in 1919 part of the battle fleet 6 ships of the République type, 6 of the Danton type, 4 armoured cruisers type Gambetta and further more the Ernest Renan, Waldeck Rousseau and the Edgard Quinet. The costs of building and fitting out of the units still missing were estimated on 3.000.000.000 francs divided over 10 budget years. The Dutch newspapers the Tilburgsche Courant and Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant both dated 8 June confirmed this item.