NAVY IN WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1929, Page 7

NAVY IN WAR

BLOCKADE PRESSURE,

ADDRESS BY COMMODORE BLAKE.

WELLINGTON, November ] •!

Through bringing economic pressure to hear upon Germany which prevented the transportation to that country by sea of men, foodstuffs, or munitions the British High Seas Fleet was the main factor in crushing the morale of the German nation and causing a revolution to break out amongst the men of the German fleet, which spread to the people, and thus brought about the end of the war. Such was the burden of a most interesting address delivered by the Commodore of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy (Commordore G. Blake, C. 8., D. 5.0., R.N.) who was the guest of honour at the New Zealand Club luncheon to-day. Commodore Blake said ho was very much restricted in expressing opinions upon naval problems which were at present in the melting pot. He, however, could tell them that he had had the honour of serving on the Iron Duke under Lord Jellicoe during the first two years of the war, and it had been most interesting to watch how the strategy of the war developed. “A good number of people at Home, as no doubt in the Dominions,” proceeded Commodore Blake, “when they sat down to their eggs and bacon in the morning during the early days of the war were very disappointed to find nothing about naval vactories in their morning papers. We did our best to get the Germans to come out and fight. We trailed our coat up and down the North Sea, but nothing happened.” After being unsuccessful in endeav-

ouring to get the German fleet to come out and give bntth>, the British fleet was thrown hack on to the attack and defence of trade. The transport of

troops from the Dominion and America was covered by the High Seas Fleet whose duty it was also to prevent any ships reaching Germany. From 1915 onward a deciphering school in England was able to decode every message sent on by the German Fleet, and the Britisn Ad mil *Ay in consequence knew what the conditions were in the North Sea and at the naval base. Owing to the disinclination of the public to spend money upon bricks and mortar, the Royal Navy had no suitable base and consequently had to assemble as far north as Scapa Flow, which was too far north effectively to keep an eye upon the German fleet, which had a very big advantage in the recentlyconstructed „I\iel Canal, which gave - them access at will to both tile Baltic and North Seas. A portion of the High Seas Fleet was later transferred to the Firth of Forth, which wua a handier jumping-off base. The German fleet could come out at any time and raid English shores and shipping. As the German Grand Fleet would not come out the High Seas Fleet was forced to put on economic pressure. This had proved effective, as it was not long before a revolution broke out amongst the personnel of the German fleet which spread throughout the whole country. This was entirely due to the economic pressure which had been applied by the British High Seas Fleet. It might be asked, proceeded Commodore Blake, what the German fleet had been trying to do in the meantime Admiral von Tirpitz, a grand old man who had been in command at the start of the war, had known all along that Germany would he ultimately defeated unless the English Navy was annihilated, but the Germans chucked him out which was a very good thing for the Allies. It was not until Admiral Scheer

took command in 1916, that aggressive tactics were put into force by the Germans. The submarine warfare had then been started without any regard to international law, and this was a reason he said, why they should be very chary of agreeing to any alteration in International Law. The Battle of Jutland the Commodore explained had been an indecisive action for the reason that “we could not hold the Germans while we kicked them.” Owing to the extraordinarily fine tactics of Sir John Jellicoe the British High Seas Fleet got between the German Fleet and its base, and it was only darkness which enabled the German ships to slip through. Commodore Blake asked all in passing judgment upon the tactics employed at the Battle of Jutland to remember the remarkable conditions which existed during the battle. “John Jellicoe the morning after the battle,” exnlained the Commodore, “asked me what ship T had been firing at, and I informed him I had been firing at the first ship in the German line.. ‘I think you were firing at the Inflexible,’ Sir John Jellicoe said doubtfully. It is unnecessary for me to tell you I wasn’t, but tnis only goes to show how difficult the conditions were during the Tiattle. “Wo hear a great deal about disarm ment. the freedom of the seas, and arbitration,” concluded the Commodore “but disarmament cannot tome in a dav, and in the meantime we must retain our supremacy of tlm seas. The last war will be but as child’s play to what the next war will he. The Royal Navy, in endeavouring to retain securitv of the seas, lias as its alv that incomparable unit, the mernntile marine which rendered such signal service durum- the Great W-'r. and which paid such a heavy toll in so doing.” Commodore Blake said that he was very proud to have command of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, which was composed of 50 per cept. of New Zealanders. These Now Zealanders had given him a different, viewpoint from other ratings lie had