GERMAN HIGH SEA FLEET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2402, 6 March 1915, Page 7

GERMAN HIGH SEA FLEET

LECTURE BY A GRAND ADMIRAL'

London, March 4. Lecturing at Kiel University, GrandAdmiral von Koester declared that it was necessary for Germany to have an uincpnquered army and navy, so as to secure favourable peace terms. If the navy were to fight a superior force it might be destroyed. What would it avail if each ship was accompanied to the bottom of the sea by an enemy ship, with perhaps a few more? England would still have ships left to attack the German coast leisurely. The Gorman fleet had shown offensive and initiative, in attacking the English <!oast. The British Admiralty was evidently afraid of J .he German x ships,' and would not attack them where they lie. Press comment says that Grand-Ad-miral Kqester's explanation indicates to the British that the German navy was built to wait for peace. The situation has only one parallel—that when the French cavalry in 1795 captured the Dutch fleet. ' Grand-Admiral Koester's navy will become a land force, itnd prob?biy be captured by a land force. . tin the concluding months _ of 1794, General Piohegru, commanding the Frenoh Revolutionary Army, invaded the Netherlands. The very severe frost of that winter gave' his troops an easy passage over all the rivers and lowlying lands; town after town fell before him; he occupied Amsterdam, and, 1 crossing the ice with his cavalry early in 1795, took the Dutoh fleet as it lay frostrbound at the Texel.]