A GERMAN OPINION OF THE BRITISH FLEET.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 November 1901, Page 3

A GERMAN OPINION OF THE BRITISH FLEET.

The Berliner Neueste Nachricten has published a strong criticism, apparently written by a naval man, upon the recent British Naval Manoeuvres.

The writer declared that, after careful study, the rumours concerning the alleged inefficiency of the British Fleet must be regarded as absolutely justified. He even goes so far as to say that the British Fleet matched against a hostile fleet of even approximately the same calibre wonld bo badly defeated, The writer considers Great Britain’s naval equipment to bo far behind the latest improvements in ships’ construction, armour and gur s. First-class armoured cruisers, he de dares, are conspicious by their absence, and the number of torpedo catchers and destroyers as equally insufficient. He regards the sudden close of the manoeuvres as proving the well founded character of his contention, “Admiral Noel being in a hopeless plight owing to the bad material under his command.” The failure of the cruisers, continues the writer, shows a want of clear method in the tac ical use of this class of war vessel in the British Navy.

The article recognises the skill of Admiral Noel, and the dating strategy and determination of Admiral Wilson; but, comprring the British and French Manoeuvres, he comes to the conclusion that while Franco can boast of success, Great Britain can only mark failure, “for the French Manoeuvres have proved the superiority of the French fleet in the Mediterranean, whereas the British Manoeuvres showed that a powerful, welldirected French fleet would keep the upper hand even in the Channel.”