CONTEMPLATING A "RAW FUTURE" .

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2358, 14 January 1915, Page 6

CONTEMPLATING A "RAW FUTURE" .

GERMAN RESPECT FOR. BRITISH

NAVAL STRATEGY. London, December 1,

Captain Persius publishes ill the "Berliner. Tageblatt" a curious appeal for a bettor appreciation of the facts regarding the British iNavy. He says that, while hitherto the wish has often been the father of the thought, the approach of "raw winter" makes it desirable for Germans to reflect moro calmly, and so, "armed in confidence," to make themselves able "to contemplate a raw futtire." He proceeds:— "One tf our chief mistakes was to underestimate our opponents. In many cases tho activity of the British Navy was disposed of with a contemptuous gesture. It was said that the whole behaviour of the English forces gave evidence of a serious weakness, and that there could be no talk of a naval supremacy of Great Britain. It seems advantageous to reduce_ this view to a more moderate proportion. It is, of ■course, easier to win applause with high sounding phraßßS, but docs that serve our interests? After nearly four months of the hard struggle it is permissible to appeal to the cool judgments of reason."., After discussion of various details, Captain Persius says:— "With the exception of a few small and old ships, the whole English Navy long ago withdrew to the protection of its ports—much to the disappointment of our submarines, which deserve sympathy because they find no more valuable' targets for their < well-aimed, torpedoes. It would be a mistake to criticise the British Navy on this account. It will, perhaps,- be said that in view of its enormous superiority its tactics are feeble. But England never pursued a policy of 'sentiment, and there can be no doubt that the tactics which have been followed are technically right. The moment for throwing in battelships and has not come. Tie situation is similar for us. Let us,refrain from making unjust criticisms, and let ■us not forget • that, notwithstanding the proud' successes of our erasers and submarines, there can thus far'be no question of a considerable' weakening of English sea power. Our navy is only at the beginning of its task, and this task is so gigantic that a sense for realities and possibilities is absolutely indispensable."

This advice will perhaps be noticed by Government organs like the "Lokalanzeiger," which continues to talk about "the legend of British naval supremacy,"' and exclaims that England's coasts are surrounded by Gorman mines, while British .port's are visited by German "squadrons," and German submarines sink ships in the Channel. NOT A DOG'S CHANCE HOW THE PEGASUS WAS CAUGHT. A number of men of H.M.S. Pegasus, which was attacked by the German cruiser Konigsberg in Zanzibar Harbour, arrived at Plymouth on December 1 from South Africa in the steamship Walmer Cattle. As was pointed out in' the Admiralty report of the attack the Pegasus was at 'anchor, cleaning her boilers and repairing machinery. Moreover she was outranged _ by the newer guns of the enemy ship. She was completely disabled. "Whatever max be said about the sporting instincts of the Emden officers, I don't think the officers of the Konigsberg had the same spirit," said one of the bluejackets. "We had been on her .track and had repeatedly challenged her to fight, calling lier up by. wireless to come and do battle. "I am quite sure that if we had encountered the Konigsberg 'on the open sea the old 'Peggie' would'have been more than a. match for the German. We were not afraid of her gunfire, and would: have steamed within range and depended upon our superior gunfire and the use .of torpedoes. "But the Germans simply waited until we had to go into Zanzibar, and then they took us at a disadvantage. It was iust like hitting a man when he was down, but I don't fancy the Gorman troubles very much about things like that." . - '. . '

One of the invalids said: "TheKonigaberg arrived off the harbour in the early part of the night, hut those on shore did not know of her presence until just at dawn. Previously the, Konigsberg had captured and sunk a patrol vessel doing duty outside the harbour. This oraft was a tug that had been captured from the Germans by the Pegasus. It was armed and fitted up with searchlights, and .was then commissioned to keep watch outside the harbour at nifiTlt. 1

"Unknown to those on shore the patrol-boat was captured and sent to the bottom, and then the Konigsberg awaited the arrival of daylight before opening fire on the Pegasus. Very quickly our guns replied, but the shells never reached the Konigsberg. The Pegasus had not a dog's chance from the start."