"CRISIS OF THE NAVAL WAR"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 263, 31 July 1920, Page 7

"CRISIS OF THE NAVAL WAR"

LORD JELLICOE'S BOOK THE SUBMARINE MENACE —7 y ADMIRALTY ADMINISTRATION ByTelegraph-Pross Association-Copyright (Rec. July 31, 1.30 a.m.) London, July 29. The evenine papers feature Lord Jellieoe's book. "Tim Crisis of Hie Naval War," and unanimously praise it as a straightforward narrative of facts, which are given without bias. It shows that Germany opened with 28 submarines, and enormously increased ithcm monthly, until by February, 1917, they numbered 130 in homo and 20 in Mediterranean stations. The turning point came in April, 1917, when Britain prevailed slowly, and gradually winning, though in September, 1918, Germany had' 326 of all classes. During tho war she lost 180, of which 35 were sunk by depth charges, 35' were mined. 19 were destroyed ]>y British submarines, 20 by patrol craft,*l2 by decoy ships, four by warships, four by merchantmen, ten 'by nets, seven by aeroplanes, and live by lowed sweeps. There, was a meeting of critics, who demanded why the German ports were not blocked. Lord Jellicoe holds that the Kattegat was available and Was used. He did not share Lord Fisher's idea of forcing the Baltic. The book contains much technical matter dealing- with Admiralty administration. When the war broke out, the Navy was lacking proper equipment, such as range-finders, lire control, and torpedoes.' Britain was ready for a war, but not this war. Under Sir Eric Geildes the Admiraltv was more costly, but not more efficient. Lord Jelliece quotes detailed examples oF unfulfilled promises of deliveries. Sir Eric Geddc; promised wo millions of tonnage in 1918, and perhaps three millions, but turned out, However, only 1,103,000 tons. The employment of mines and. of submarines jnounting guns was unforeseen by the authorities. Lord Jellicoe fays they could not have been foreseen. The issue or the whole war was jeopardised because the enemy used'a weapon for.which no defence was prepared. Lord Jellicoe concludes'with a J 1 ™" 16 to tho American . Navy, especially Admiral Sims.—United Service.