VON TIRPITZ'S MEMOIRS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 3

VON TIRPITZ'S MEMOIRS

OKKMAXyS "SWCIDAL LOVL OP PEACE." Admiral ion Tirpitz discovered what he regarded ns so many defects in the Biitish Navv in the oarly stages of the war that he concluded the liigh Seas Fleet if it had sought an engagement in 19U would, have, stood a good chance of victory feay.s the "Baily News"). In his memoivs (published in London re-cc-ntlr) he sow auite truly thlit the sunrcmi> rmalitv of- a warehip is that she should remain in a vertical position after beinv atruck, aud should continue to-put an a ikiit. The British Navy, he declares. was ko much behind the German in this resDoct that the difference in this quality alone might have decided the issue of an engagement. In tragic v.:in von Tirpitz laments tho reasons whv the German Navy was not allowed to win a just peace in tattle. "I am to-dav still convinced." he says, "that tlm l-'leet could have fulfilled' its destinv and could have aided us to secure an honourable jwaco if a right usa had been nx.de of it." There arc mativ cnnflicting passages in tbe book. Von Tirpitz produces "proofs" of Girmunv's "suicidal love'of peace," of her "mi pre pa red n ess for war," and vet of all the renronches heaped upon him the onlv one that really affected him was that he did not build more battleships. An early sea battle, he thinks, would nor have been without prospects of success for tho Germans. Coupled with the occupation of the Channel coast i this succc.-s would hat'e increased England's readiness for peace. Tho occupation of Cuiie Grisncn would have made it.possible t'i shell London, and a concentrated bombardment of London from If lid and air ivonld have been justified a.s one method 'of shor'ening the war. lint'he is driven to the conclusion that 'The German people did net understand thn sea. Tn tlie'hour-of its'destiny it did not. n»« its Fleet." The revolution, "the greatest crime Offaiust tbe f/ihire. of the Gernian pMvle." jettisoned .'cvryftinsr that bad made them 'aiidity The collapse -as not to be attributed to the oh! eonftitution. but to tbe incompetence of f.lie men who administered it. Tiie eoinlnsipn lo which cne is rftoT readi.'i? von Tirpitz on the llattle of .Tulland is that it wa= a pleasant, surnrifo for the German -Navv. He says it was surprised by ita own success a]'d by the clenrv proved supe"ior:ty of its personnel and "Most « f the i".»n had '-ad "n idea hr"' sp'endid f'"? Fleet was." He r-p?atedl'- rpf»r„- (o the wav in which, the flevm«i> Fleet was s"niw?etl to srirched t'«» S<"> for the l'riti<b Navy, and in 10«6 A<l- | <\!i«»r is mentioned as Jiaving fp-rl>fi- nttf ; o r""i" n our Naw. ''Tt !- worthy Notice." -op T'roitz. "l-b"!-. en" by F'"-* W.iht ns to within .10 '-nt' of S-tp/Iw. '"v'. and into Ic'i'.b v;if,b fbs Fnd'sh Pifi-. We ies'- =ieh f of it ill a hem-v -ninyform. mid when weather cleared i- —v not to b? sc^p." I'hi rnrcpcntant a.u'; I '" , v e 1 f-hs '-"ib --s nihm-ri-- v"-fr."c st'll. rtieks t-> t'i" i'~-nd »Vt ih" Lneit-"®! wa= heavily W- wi'h mii" , '' ; c.rs. bi'>. on t'-e otW i--nd. this cr in- b" 'ayir- tlnl ii-.o rpljpiivien comeiander did not it -as the Li'^tania- had torpedoed until the ver-?el was sinking!