"Another submersible torpedo boat, called the Espadon, was on Saturday launched at Cherbourg. The French navy, therefore, now possesses, or has building, 37 of this class of vessels. According to the naval programme voted by the Chamber last year, there were to be built between 1900 and 1905, 44 submarine vessels, which added to the 14 which France possessed previously to 1900, would give a total of 58 submarine vessels to be completed by 1905."