French minister of navy Besnard claimed French navy being excellent according to the Dutch newspaper De locomotief dated 26 March 1895

An item reported that the French admiral Besnard, minister of navy in the French Parliament excellence of the French navy the put forward.(1)

Note
1. Armand Louis Charles Gustave Besnard (11 October 1833 Rambouillet, France-15 July 1903 Rohan, France) minister of navy 17 January-1 November 1895 and 29 April 1896-28 June 1898. Also a navy officer ending his career as vice admiral.