Official

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 36, 29 September 1914, Page 5

Official

THE NORTH SEA LOSS.

THE ADMIRALTY' SSTATEMENT.

AN ERROR OF JUDCMENT.

U6O OFFICERS AND MEN LOST.

The Prime Minister lias received the following message from tlie HigU Commissioner: —

London, September 25th, 10.10 o.m —The Admiralty authorises the following statement: —"The- sinking of H.M.S. Aboukir was of course an ordinary hazard of patrolling Jr.fcy fi.M.S. Hogue and Cressy, however, were sunk because they proceeded to the assistance of their . consort and remained with the engines stopped endeavoring to sav© life, thus presetting an easy and certain target for further submarine attacks. The natural promptings of humanity have in this case led to heavy losses, vhvb would have been avoided by strict adherence to military consideration. "Modern naval war presents so many new strange situations that an error of judgment of this character is pardonable. But it has been ne-iSs-sary to point out for future guidat.ce that the conditions which prevail when one vessel of a squadron is injured in a minefield or exposed to submarine attack are analagous to those which occur in action, and the rule of having disabled ships to their own ;e----sources is applicable so far at any rate as largo vessels are concerned. No act of humanity, whether to friend or foe, should lead to the neglect of proper precautions of dispo.itions of war and no measures can be taken to save life which prejudice the military situaton. Small craft cf all kinds should be directed by wireless to close in on a damaged ship with all possible speed. "The loss of nearly sixty offic&i'S and 1400 men would not have been grudged if it had been brought aboat by gunfire in open action, but -.t is peculiarly distressing under the con ■ difcions which prevailed. The absence of any of the ardour and excitement of an engagement did not, howe sre". prevent the display of discipline, cheerful courage and ready self-sacr-fice among all ranks and ratings exposed to the ordeal. The duty on which these vessels were engaged was essentially part of the arrangeme-13 by which the control of the sea and the safety of the'' country are ina:ntained, and the lives lost are as usefully, as necessarily, and as glorioas'y devoted to the requirements of His Majesty's service as if the loss h&d been incurred in general action. "In view of the certainty of ,a proportion of misfortunes of this character occurring from time to time, it is important that this point of viow should be thoroughly appreciated. The loss of three cruisers, apart from the loss of life, is of small naval significance. Although they were largo powerful ships, they belonged to a class of cruisers whose speed has bean surpassed by many of tho enemr's battleships. Before' the war it' lad been decided that no more mon?y should be spent in repairing any cf this class, and that they should make their way to the sale list as soon as serious defects became manifest.