ADMIRAL JELLICOE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1917, Page 4

ADMIRAL JELLICOE.

ON THE TJ-BOAT AfENACE. American newspapers give the text of another brief interview accoided to a representative of tlio Associated Press by Admiral Jellicoe early in August. “ A'ou ask me to say somethin" of the submarine menace,” Sir John said. “It is serious because all the Allied armies and civil population are, in varying degree, dependent on sea transport. But, viewed broadly, the recourse by the Germans to this form of piracj is encoiu-nging. They did not adopt it until they bad lost hope in ' the victory of their armies. They did not risk drawing the United States into the war and concentrating', on themselves the loathing of all other neutral Slates, until they were convinced that they conic! not float a keel on the world’s seas and by legitimate means interfere with the growth of the military strength of the Allies. lor three years naval power has been in process of transition into military power. The Germans in desperation decided to embark upon ruthless submarine warfare in the confident belief that it would prove a fatal stroke. In February, according to their own confession, it was tlie best and onlj means of a speedy and victorious ending of the war.”

“March, April, May, June and July have passed, and their early hopes are still unrealised, Sir John continued. “ There is no reason lo doubt that the Germans have at sea lately a far larger number of submarines than in February and Afarch, but, nevertheless, with the invaluable assistance which America lias rendered, we have prevented them from reaping the harvest which they anticipated. Combating the submarine demand the utmost effort on the part of all the countries which have joined forces to defeat Germany. She has staked her all on the submarine, and if we defeat it her last hope will have gone. The two urgent needs of the' moment, are more patrol ships for limiting down submarines and an increased output of merchant shipping, so that iho losses suffered at sea may be made good. The war has become one of economic endurance. With the powerful aid which the United States is rendering in making the naval blockade effective, Germany’s condition must become worse week by week. She will bold out so long as there is the faintest hope of the success of the submarine warfare. Once its iailnre is demonstrated the German people, whatever may be the case with the German Government, will recognise that defeat stares them in the face.”