NAVAL ATTACKS ON THE ENEMY'S COAST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 17, 15 October 1917, Page 6

NAVAL ATTACKS ON THE ENEMY'S COAST

FRENCH ADMIRAL SEES A POSSIBILITY.

Vico-Admiral Degouy recently commented in tho "Journal des Debate" on the interview given by Admiral Sir Joan Jellieoe to a representative of the Associated Press of America (and published in the cablegrams). He thoroughly appreciated the recognition by Admiral Jellieoe that the submarine warfare remained serious, and that fresh construction was necessary in order to meet it. Admiral Degouy emphasised the "valuable character of the work done by tho British Grand Fleet, and _ showed that, except as regards the Baltic, the control of the surface of the waters had been absolutely in the hands of tho Allios. Unfortunately, in the Baltic the liberty left to tho Germans had enabled tliem to force the Norwegians to withdraw the order issued in October last year as regards submarines. Admiral Degouy argued that tho undefended state of tho British coast towns was a strong reason why tho Germans should not have been allowed to fortify the Belgian coasts and undertako raids. Referring to Sir John Jellicoes statement that the problem of attacking the Belgian coast is not incapable of solution, tho French Admiral writes"This is satisfactory information, '• .which we are very glad to have. I may perhaps be allowed to say that the same comment could be made on the problem of attacking tho German coast. It nould be easy, I think, to prove that favourable points for the enterprise of a clcver attack are much more numerous there than is generally thought. Anyhow, as I havo been saying for t&o Ust tl'irtytwo months, operations on the Belgian coast would 6erve a 6 an -ixcellont lesson."