JUTLAND BATTLE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1927, Page 1

JUTLAND BATTLE

GERMAN ADMIRAL’S VIEWS.

LONDON, Sept. 30

Admiral Iteinhard Scheer, who fed the German Fleet at the Battle of Jutland, gives in tho current number of the “ Fortnightly Review ” his version of the battle and its results.

After expressing disappointment at the barrenness of the Harper Record, Admiral Scheer continues:—-

Admiral Beatty has been reproached for plunging too sharply into action, as soon as lie came in sight ol the German cruisers, without having taken the precaution of having his supporting squadron—the sth Battle Squadron—closer at hand. It appears to me that tiiis censure is unjustified. We shall come closer to “ the truth about Jutland” if we drop the myth about the German desire to “ escape,” as well as all this raking iorth ol unessential faults and errors of the British leadership in this battle. One ought rather to seek it in the dilemma in which Admiral Jollicoe tound himself in view of Ids general strategic task and the orders under which he stood. STRATEGIC LTMITATIONS. The British Admiralty had adopted the strategic offensive, inasmuch as it hoped to achieve its goal by the operation of the principle of “ the fleet in being. . . To the strategic limitations imposed upon Admiral Jollicoe must he added the tactical helplessness of his longdrawn line ot battle. But from the very moment that lie had the possibility of annihilating the German Fleet by his preponderance of ships (To against 27 major units), his adherence to the strategic leitmotif of avoiding losses in ships became a fallacy. An abiding faith in the best traditions of the British Navy, the tradition of conquering an enemy in open anil chivalrous battle rather than by the chicanery of politicians, ought, one might think, to have brought forth the resolution to convert this encounter at Jutland into another glorious first ol J line.

Instead of this, England was obliged to incur the great danger of the Uhoiit warfare, from the consequences of which she was only released hy the intervention of America. And it was America that harvested the success of the naval battle ot May 31st, 191(>. That is the truth about Jutland.

PROF CALLENDER’S RETORT. LONDON. Oct. -L Professor Geoffrey Callender, Professor of History and English at the Royal Naval College, G.recnwich, in a letter to the “ Morning Post,” points out where Admiral Scheer errs in his article on the Battle of Jutland in tho “ Fortnightly Review.” “ Engagements at sea,” he says, “ may he subdivided into four categories : engagements in which both belligerents have sought action ; engagements in which a willing fighter has met a force coerced into action hy political pressure; engagements in which a willing fighter has endeavoured to bring an unwilling opponent to decisive action and has succeeded; and engagements in which a willing fighter has endeavoured to bring an unwilling opponent to decisive action and has failed.

The time is not vet ripe for the true history of Jutland. Hut the time is more than ripe enough to classify this tremendous engagement. Beyond all douht it should he placed in the fourth category. Thanhs to the incomparable leadership of the British Admiral and tin* magnificent support he received from all who fought with him, the engagement was very nearly converted to a battle of the third. But not quite; and hence the disappointment and aching vexation of heart. Admiral School", hv the shill ol his adversaries, was compelled to accept battle; realised his mistake, and claimed (with perfect propriety) the right to decline a decision. As on a score of occasions in times past Fortune weighted the dice heavily in favour of the licet which was bent on escape. “ As on that immortal field Sclieer turned, lihe a hunted thing, from one course to another, so now lie still strives with verbal artifice and ingenious hair-splittings to dodge eternal consignment to the leeward berth in the limbo of category four. At Jutland, the hour, the weather, low visibility. smohe screens, destroyer screens and darhness aided him. These avail Idm no longer, and he can ho ‘ fixed ’ with the penetrating point of logic beyond all hope of a second escape.”