The Dominion. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1915. TRIBUTES TO THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2596, 19 October 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1915. TRIBUTES TO THE NAVY

A well-deserved tribute to the splendid achievements of the British Navy will be found in our cable columns this morning. The writer is Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, who has had exceptionally favourable opportunities for getting firsthand information regarding certain phases of the sea, war. He tells us about the things which be has actually seen, and he gives ail' inspiring account of the magnificent fighting spirit of the men who man the Fleet. Mn. Bartlett's article has special reference to the Dardanelles campaign, but his high praise of the efficiency of our ships and of the magnificent skill and enduranco of our _ sailors coincides with the impressions gained by Mr, Frederick Palmer, an American journalist, during a visit to the North Sea Fleet. Mr/ Palmer lays stress on the power "of the Navy and writes mainly from the material point of view, whereas Mit. Bartlett seems to he thinking chiefly of the human element. He is struck with the fine spirit in which the men are doing their work —night and day, in storm and calm. It is impossible to over-estimate the Ecrvice which the British Navy has rendered to ourselves and our Allies. Now that the oceans havo been swept clear of the enemy's warships we do not hear very much about the operations of our fleets; but we know that our export trade is being carried on with very little interruption. This is a matter of vital importance to New Zealand, and we have to thank Admiral Jellicoe and his brave men for keeping open the trade routes. Though wo arc participating in the groat,• ~-t war m the wnrld'3 history, New

Zealand has not heard the sound of a hostile gun, thanks to the strength ancl watchfulness of tho King -5 warships. The fact that wo take our immunity from attack almost as a matter of course is a striking testimony to the Empire's unwavering confidence in the capacity of our fleets to deal with any force likely to lie pitted against them. The work which the Navy has done during the last fourteen months has repaid, many times over, all the money spent on it.

So much of our attention is just now concentrated upon the land campaigns that we are apt to forget what the Navy has done and is doing. "What is England doing in this war?" This question has been widely asked, and in answering it the achievements of the Navy must take a foremost place. In this .connection a leading Italian newspaper emphasises tho vast influences which Britain's jsea power has cxercised on the course of events, a.nd declares that if Britain had remained neutral the conflict would have ended in six months, leaving all Europe under the heel of the Kaiser. "Liberating the seas from the Germans is the. most noteworthy success so far obtained by the Allies, depriving the enemy, as it does, of territories which will be of the greatest weight w'hon peace is discussed." When the history, of the war comes to be written the great part which the British Navy has played. will not be overshadowed by any - other phase of the struggle. It is impossible for Britishers to read without emotion the stirring accounts of tho Archbishop of York, Mr. Ashjiead Bartlet-t, and others who have had the privilage of sharing for a time the life of_ the "band of brothers" whose efficiency, courage,' and endurance have enabled Britain to rulo the waves to-day as surely as she did in- the days of Nelson.. We all share in Mr. Balfour's hope that the second year of the war will show no falling-off ; in the Navy's success, "as it will assuredly show no relaxation of its efforts."