WHAT THE NAVY IS DOING.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 107, 12 November 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHAT THE NAVY IS DOING.

CEASELESS VIGIL AND PREPARATION FOR THE DAY.

HOW GERMANY IS LOSING HER SUBMARINE FLEET.

"By Ramming, Gunfire, Explosives, and Many Other Methods." By permission of the Admiralty, a number of foreign journalists have been paying a visit to the Grand Fleet in the unnamed harbour where, under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, it continues to await "The Day" so discreetly deferred by the rulers of the Kaiser's Navy. Among them have been a party of distinguished French writers, including M. Pichon, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs. Another of the favoured few U Mr. Frederick Palmer, who has ln'cn representing the American Pre.is oir the Western front. In the article printed below he tells an engrossing story of what he saw. No part of his dispatch is more remarkable than that in which he shows how effectively the Br.'tsh Navy is disposing of the German submarines, which have been destroyed "by ramming, gunfire, and explosives, and in many other way which we do not tell.'' In a graphic pen picture Mr. Palmer gives us a glimpse of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe walking the quarter-deck and kept in touch by wireless wiith every incident of the whole naval drama.

THE "GREAT SPORT." NAVY'S EAGERNESS FOR THE HUNT. NEW YORK, Monday. Mr. Frederick Palmer, the wellknown American author, who is the ae_ credited representative of the American Press on the Western Front, thus describes a v'sit he paid to the British Grand Fleet.

cruiser's squadron which had just come from "sweeping" the North Sea, as ncouting is called. As our destroyer turrets could be seen turning and the guns elevated and lowered in the course of drills.

The seaplanes which were sailing over the fleet, had their home on a famout Atlantic liner which has carried many thousands of passengers. In their plaoes in the battle-cruiser squad, ron, which is known in the Navy as the "cat squadron," were the Lion and the Tiger, which sank the Blutcher in the North Sea battle.

During the past week I have visited the British Grand Fleet, and an important naval base, where I saw dry docks capable of docking the largest Dreadnoughts which had been built since the war began. I was also shown maps marking points where German submarines had been sighted and the results of the attacks on them calssified under—"CAPTURED," "SUPPOSED SUNK," And "SUNK."

" This seems to be sufficient denial of the German report that the Tiger is at the bottom of the sea," said the officer with us.

Looking exotic among the homogeneous types of ten-gun ships which belong to the regular Brit'sh Navy, was the former Turkish 12-inch Dreadnought which was taken over at the outset of the war. YOUTH AT THE HELM. As we approached the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief the officer pointed out Sir John Jellicoe as one of the two officers walking on the quarterdeck, who carried a telescope under his arm. From the quarter-deck he can keep an eye on all those grey monsters which form the fighting part ot his command, while the others of his host are abroad on different errands.

When bubbles are observed rising for a long time from the same spot in smooth water, it is taken for granted that the career of the submarine is ended.

When I asked the officers, " How did you get them?" they answered. " Sometimes by ramming, sometimes by gunfire, sometimes by explosives, and in many other ways we ao not tell." Officers and men on board the battleships and armed cruisers are envious of those engaged in submarine hunts, which are regarded as great sport. In all England as 2,300 trawlers, mine-sweepers, and other auxiliaries outside of the regular service on duty on the blockade from the British Channel to Iceland, and in keepng the North Sea clear. Their reservist crews have been most zealous in performing their important part in overcoming the kind of naval warfare which Germany has waged." As the destroyer which carried the guests after a eruise at sea following the coast turned its head toward land

Quick movement and speech, tanned by the year of exposure on constant duty, only a broad gold lace band differentiated him from the other officers as they received their guests at the gangway. Whether it wa6 Beatty, Sturdee, or any other of h s squadron commanders, their youth was most impressive. The Commander-in-Chief at 57 is the senior of all. He is rarely without the telescope under his arm, his officers say, when he is on deck, and nothing which the officers or watch sees but he sees also. He escorted his guests through the flagship, showing the men at drill, and particularly called attention to a special machine for giving gun-layers practice in firing, where results of each shot are displayed. Stepping into a small room, where telegraph keys clicked, and compact wireless apparatus was hidden behind armdur, we saw one focus of communication which brings Sir John word of any submarine sighted or of any movement in all the seas around tfeo Brtish Isles, and carries thg Commander-in-Chief's orders far and near.

into the harbour where the Grand Fleet is anchored, we saw d target being towed in the customary manner for firing practice by 6ome cruisers. "Wo keep at it all the time," the officer with mo explained. The cruisers' practice finished, they took their place in fleet formation, among the immense field of grey shapes at anchor in precise order, which, us one drew nearer, became line after line of Dreadnoughts.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIT UN. Painted a colour which melts into the sea, even the Queen Elizabeth, back from the Dardanelles, looked small for her tonnage and gun-power, unless compared with the Inflexible, the flagship of the Falkland Islands battle, or with the vessels of the light

The bluejackets were invariab y sturdy, long-sarviee men of mature yea re. Their health is better than in time of peace as a result of being kei>t on board under a constant regime, with sufficient exercise and good food. Misdemeanours of all sorts haxe decreased since the Mar began. WAR-TIME EFFICIENCY. One feature of the usual routine alone is changed. The recks are washed only twice a week instead of every day, which allowed the men less freedom 01 movement and kept their surroundings too moist. The a:m is to keep always up to the maximum of efficiency, the officers explained, and not to overtrain to staleness or to permit of any slackness.

Whether in the turrets, on the bridge, or below deck, there was a significant absense of even the minutest thing to the civilian eye which did not serve the purpose of battle. Only m the Commander-in-Chief's cabin, with its numerous sea maps on the wall, did books and pictures suggest other than bare utility for war. Officers whom I met spoke in the same strain about the situation. If the German fleet ever had any chance of success it was at the outset of tho war. With every passing month the British Fleet had grown stronger and better organised to meet any emerg. encv. Thought the submarines had played a more important part than many had anticipated, the methods of countering their attacks and of destroying them had also developed beyond expectations. —Reuter.