The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1914. SUPREMACY OF THE SEAS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 35, 28 September 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1914. SUPREMACY OF THE SEAS.

In the great crisis through which we are at present passing the yital importance of the supremacy of the seas to Britain can hardly he estimated or imagined, and the position of England to-day, had the enemy’s ships been able to sweep the seas of British commerce, as British ships have swept the seas of Germany’s commerce, would have been sad indeed. With the greatly preponderating naval power w Inch Britain possesses, she is able to hold up the main fleets of the German navy, and is gradually, with the valued assistance of France and Japan, exteiminating the remainder of the enemy’s ships which were unfortunately for themselves unable to lie at home at Kiel Harbor when the war broke out. But this in itself is not enough, and as the Christchurch Press in a thoughtful article on the situation expresses t “although for military purposes it is almost as if their licet was non-exist-ent, our task will not be completely fulfilled until the German Navy has been destroyed.” Mr Thursfield’s work on “Naval Warfare” is quoted, in which he points out that Napoleon was beaten and his projected invasion or England was abandoned many weelts before Trafalgar was. won. But the command of the sea was not thereby secured to England. It needed Trafalgar and the destruction of the French and Spanish fleets there accomplished to effect that consummation. The present position in the North Sea, irresistibly recalls a letter written on August Ist, 180-1, by Nelson to the Lord Mayor of London, acknowledging a vote of thanks passed by the Corporation and addressed to Nelson as commanding the fleet blockading Toulon. Neb son said in bis reply“l beg to inform your Lordship that the poit < 1 Toulon has never been blockaded by me: quite the reverse—every opportunity has been offered to the enemy to put to sea, for it is there that we hope to realise the hopes and expec- , tations of our country, and 1 trust that they will not be disappointed.” In these’few crisp and pregnant sentences, says the Press, there is expressed the feeling of every man in the great British fleet which is now keeping watch and ward in the autumn fogs and chill blasts of the North Sea, knowing that the safety of the Enipiie is in their keeping. Mr Tbursfield, discussing the aspect of commerce destruction, observes that “of two belligerents in a naval war that one which establishes and maintains an effective command of the sea will bp absolute master of the maritime commerce of the other, while bis own maritime comefeo, though not entirely immune, will suffer no such decisive losses as will determine or even materially affect the course and issue of the war; and be may indeed emerge from the war much stronger and more prosperous than he was at the beginning.” Though certainly British ships have not been immune, it seems pretty safe to say that Mr Thursfield’s summary of the posi- ! tion is a correct one.