WITH THE RUSSIAN FLEET

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2837, 31 July 1916, Page 8

WITH THE RUSSIAN FLEET

FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE BALTIC (By Hamilton Fyfc, in tho "Daily Mail.") Whero I saw the Russian Baltic Fleet I must not tell, but I have just como back from seeing it, and I am happy to be able io report faithfully that, both in material strength and in the spirit, from highest to lowest, of its officers and men, it is in a better state than it has ever been.' before. Tho change from last spring's conditions to those which prevail now is vastly encouraging. Then Russia was weak by comparison with the naval force which Germany could put into tho Baltic. Grave doubts were felt about tho result of a naval engagement. "A year ago/' one of tho officers of one of the new Dreadnoughts said to uic, "wo wore saying, 'If .'hey should como . . .' Now we say every morning and every night, 'If they only would come . . .' We want them to come. The sooner the better. We have confidence in ourselves now." llhat is the feeling throughout tho Fleet, and there aro many reasons for bc- ■ Kevins that our ally's confidence is well based. One cannot, it is true, judge of the value of a naval force by looking at it. I came first upon the Fleet lying at anchor on a day of warm spring sunshine, a light breeze just ruffling the water and giving the air that, sparkling clearness w;hich one sees only under northern skies. I glanced from one grey, grim, fighting machine to another—battleships, battle-cruisers, lighter cruisers, gunboats, stocky and powerful; destroyers slim and swift; submarines sunning themselves on the surface like 6ea monsters taking their ease. And I thought to myself, "It would surely be impossible to find in any navy an array that would give one a rnoro vivid impression of readiness and strength."' : That feeling was intensified day after day so long as I remained in tho neighbourhood of the Fleet,! coming to know, more and more about it Yet it is, of course,, no more than an impression, a feeling. Something more solid than a personal view must be offered to convince you that the mastery of the Baltic lias passed out of German hands. Facts are needed, and the assurances, backed up by facts, of the men in high commands. Such an assurance I am fortunate enough, to be able to give from the mouth of the Commander-in-Chief himself.

The ships' bells wero sounding six of the afternoon watch as I went up the side of the admiral's flagship. Tho crisp tang of the sound came clearly across the water from all sides, mellowed by distance. In a slight haze tho ships of the Fleet lay around as if they were taking forty winks. But if they slept they 6lept like dogs, with ouo eye open. There-was no lack, if oue peered more closely, of signs of activity on board thm. • Admiral Essen's Work. A young, llag-licuteuant received me. He had not tnac joiiy, supremely heaiiny, peviecay "turneu-uut" appearance which we associate witu navai olncers. .but it toot;.me only a very snort Uino to discover that ho was exceedingly intelligent, that he knew his busiziiss thorougnly, and that Ho was very keen on Ins jou. Jie led me turougn tne ship, and in a lew moments I was , shaking hands with itussia's leading seaman strategist, "the Commander-in-Chief on the Baltic Station, Vice-Admiral iianine. It was a heavy blow for ltussia when Admiral Essen died about a year after tho war. began. Essen was a great si<ilor. Ho would nave been a man of mark in any Navy. It was Admiral. Essen who re-created the Kussian Navy after the disasters of, the war with Japan. The 'result of nis efforts was beginning to appear when this war broke out. It came too early for their full fruition to be accomplished, but already Itussia had fleets again; had modern ships; had armament. And, best of all; she had already crows trained by Essen's 6ystem up to a higher efficiency than Kussian sailors had ever reached bofore. Every mouth increased tho, Navy's strength. Tho pace of shipbuilding was quickened. The programme settled before the war was carried out with a rapidity which for Itussia was unexampled. Essen's foresight and wise preparation received every day readier recognition. But ho was not to enjoy the reward of his labours.

Vice-Admiral Kanino took his place, and was by all accounts the, best successor who could have been found. He is u young admiral, not much over fifty. He ha 6 a kindly, thoughtful expression. His bluo eyes are usually gentle and' humorous, though I am told they can be piercing enough, and even stormy at times. Ho wears a short naval beard and moustache—might be a british admiral. Talks quietly in a pleasant, flexible voice, which ho seldom raises, making his points not by loudness of tone, but by emphasis of expression. His active service uniform is of the simplest. A plain bluo serge tunic; flat epaulettes of gold braid, upon which Russian eagles are embroidered in black; the Order of St. Anno in red enamel hanging at his neck. A man who.makes no effort whatever to bo improssiro. A man of' Dimple habits and character, direct in his methods both of action and of speech. A man who inspires confidence as well as liking, who has won tho affection of all about him in addition to their respect. "Doing Our Part at Sea." He sat and talked to mo in his cabin for half an hour.' Ho does not possess Admiral Essen's knowledge of English, tic even excused himself from talking French. But ho showed tho most courteous and kind consideration in making allowanco for my recent and very imperfect acquaintance .with Russian. Ho spoke slowly and distinctly, and was I'c.idy to repeat any phrase which I had not at first hearing understood. Much of what ho said I must not repeat, but tbc.ro. remains enough to 6how upon what grounds the admiral bases his sure hope of Russia's remaining mistress of the Baltic Sea.

"You understand, of course," he said, "that wo are in a quite different position from that of a year ago. Wo are, to begin with, very much stronger in 6hips. I have, in addition to the four new Dreadnoughts, a largo number of other ships put in commission during tho Inst twelve months. In torpedo-boats and submarines wc aro now especially strong. Our mine-layers and minesweepers are numerous and- devoted. "Very likely it is the increase of our strength which keeps tho onemy nwuy. Our scouts never see any German, ship's. This year we have had much clearer weather than last, not so many sea-fogs. Never a sign of them. "But certainly," he added thoughtfully, "it is very, very difficult for them.-" Was ho thinking of mines? I fancy so. Admiral Kanine has all his life made a special study of this form of warfare. No one knows more about it. The Gormana last year admitted in their official dispatch about the disastrous attempt they made to get possession of tho Gulf of Riga: "The mine-field at tho entrance to the gulf was laid with tho greatest skill." So they found,to their tost! ■ • "We kept them off then, and I am confident wo shall be able to keep them off now that wo are m much better Kq nipped," the admiral says. "Toll your countrymen Hint I am waiting quietly and cheerfully, just as your preat Fleet is waiting for the enemy to uliow himself. Tell the British people we aro doing our part well at sea as well n« on land, certain that the combined efforts of nil of us. must lead to eventual J Tlctory."