THE BUCCANEER WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2560, 7 September 1915, Page 5

THE BUCCANEER WAR

GERMAN MISTAKES IN NAVAL POLICY , .'. ;■ London, Soptemher's. Mr. A. J. Balfour (First Lord of tlio Admiralty), in u letter to a correspondout, says that Germany first proclaimed her policy of building a fleet ' against Great' Britain in 1900. From the standpoint of her own ambitions, the policy was .perfectly sound. She aimed at world domination, against which tlio British Fleet had been tlie surest protection since the days of•-Queen Elisabeth. The Germans had every reason tii be aware of the fa<it that without the British Fleet Frederick tlie Great must have succumbed, to" his .enemies and Russia would scarcely havossliakeri <iff tho Napoleonic tyranny. Whatev'er might be thought of the freedom of tho seas, the freedom of the land' Was due . in.no small measuro to the British Navy. German statesmen Were too wise to suppose they could call ii navy into existence immediately able to contend on equal terms with a Power which Was! tlie most formidable obstacle to their aggressive projects, but calculated that a powerful inferior fleet would Tender .Great Britaiii's Fleofc impotent; since the British Government woula not dare to risk a conflict whioli, how- ' over successful, might leave Great Britain's naval forces inferior to that of a third Power. This policy was clearly, though cautiously, expressed .in tho famous proiimblo to the Navy Bill. Old Policy Breaks Down. So' far German designs had not met with any measure of success. The British fighting fleet was relatively ' stronger than it was thirteen months ago, and there was 110 reason to sup-, pose that this process was likely to bd arrosted. It was plain that Admiral von Tirpitz and tlio German Admiralty ! arrived at _ the same conclusion when 1 the old policy broko down, and' thought I that''submarines might. succeed where Dreadnoughts and cruiser had failed 1 , ' "Tbia change," ho says, "was adopted with extreme reluctance and many ' seairchings of heart. Tlie most reckless Government does liot desire to\ perpetrate unnecessary crimes. We can onlyconjecture at the feelings of tho German Navy. German sailors are gallant men, and do not like; being put to.a coward's job. They know well enough that in the old days every privateersman would have thought himself disgraced if ho had sont unresisting 1 mor- 1 chant sWps to the ibattom with all hands: It is not an agreeable reflection that tho first notable performance of tlie German Fleet shoidd resemble pir- i acy rather than privateering. f The Pirate Stain. 1 "If may safely bo assumed that only I hopes of decisive sticcfess induced the a German Banisters to inflict a new stain, t on 'tlio honour of their country. Deci- g not

mil mi 111 I M -■ I not seem to -b® in sight/ •. frhile th 6 losses inflioted upon German submarines are formidable. ■ " - The British . mercantile tonnage is greater than it was at the beginning of the war. It is true that many inoffensive persons,' including women and , children, neutrals as well as belliger-. outs, haye been robbed and killed, but the criminals have also paid heavy toll. Some were .rescued, but from the very nature of! sruibmatnnes these vessels often drag their crews to destruction, and those who sent them- to their unhonoured mission have awaited their return in vain. - "Herein lies the explanation of tho amazing clmgo which has overcome the diplomatic attitude of Germany towards the .United States. Men ask why the sinking of the Lusitania was 'welcomed in Germany with a shout of. triumph, while that of the Arabic was accepted in melancholy silence. It is not be- . cause the United States '' has become V' stronger, or Germany weaker, or beI cause the attitude of the President lias varied, nor because German opinion had , revolted against lawless cruelty. . Tiia ; real reason was to be found in the fact . that the authors of the submarine-pol-icy have had time to measure its effect., Deeds which were merely crimes m May seem to be blunders in-Sep* f tember.''