On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 39, 17 February 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

The British Navy. MR CHURCHILL’S SPEECH ISSUE OF THE WAR DEPENDS ON THE NAVY. “AS SOUND AS A BELL.” Unitkd Press Association. London, February IG. Mr Churchill, in the House of Commons, said that only 63 vessels, exclusive of mine-sweeping trawlers, had been lost since the war started. Britain’s situation in every sea was unchallenged. The losses in the navy wore 5500 officers and men killed, but we had killed an equal number. Our command of the sea enabled us to carry throughout the world of a million men without accident or loss of life. The Falklands victory almost entirely freed the outer seas. The Dogger Bank action was of immense value, and significance by throwing light on the rival systems of designs and armament. The navy’s new 15-inch guns equalled the 13-J-incli guns In quality, but were' vastly more powerful and more destructive.

’ Regarding the German submarine attacks on merchantmen, he said: “Wo will take reprisals, because Germany cannot be allowed to adopt a system of qpen piracy and murder. Restrictions placed upon German trade will l)e increased. Hitherto we have not attempted to stop foodstuffs, hut a further declaration will promptly bo made applying the full force of our naval pressure upon the enemy.” Mr Churchill stated that the paralysing force which the navy exerted could alone decide the issue of the war. “The navy,” he added, ‘‘is as sound as a bell.”

The Admiralty deprecated anything tending to make officers afloat or at the Admiralty play for safety. The Admiralty had chartered about a fifth of the mercantile marine. We were supplying from across the sea an army almost as large as Napoleon’s grand army, but vastly more complete. He was unable to hold out any hope of immediate reduction of the tonnage the Admiralty required. There were 4165 British arrivals arid 3600 sailings in the last month, and 1 only nineteen were sunk by above-water craft. Between 1793 and 1814 we lost 10,871 merchantmen. Even after Trafalgar we lost five hundred ships yearly, and it was really marvellous how few our losses had been. Steam and telegraph ha'd enormously increased the efficiency of the superior power. . Loudon, February 16.

Mr Churchill, continuing, emphasised the efficiency of the navy. At the outbreak of the war the navy was fully mobilised. The reserves of ammunition and torpedoes were far above the regular quantities, and there was ample fuel oil. An immense programme of new construction was now maturing to reinforce the fleet. The pre-arrang-ed system of accelerating new construction was yielding surprising results. Oil consumption had been greatly above the estimate, but not a single oilsbip bad been lost, and the price was lower than when ho last addressed the House. The Naval Training School was full to the brim, and we were thus able to man the ships coming on in such great numbers. Replying to a suggestion that Britain should hold a court-martial for every ship lost, he pointed out that the novel conditions of warfare presented naval officers with problems of incomparable hazard and difficulty, and a court-martial would frequently be inappropriate.

GREAT OVERSEAS CONVOY.

TRADERS’ LOSSES COVERED BY GOVERNMENT INSURANCE.

THE CRIME OF A PARRICIDE. United Press Association. (Received 8.80 a.m.) London, February IG. In the House of Commons, Mr Churchill added that the great strain of distant convoy work in the early months had now diminished, including the great convoy of sixty Australian ships, forty Canadian, and a regular flow of Indian convoys of forty to fifty vessels.

Now, wo were to be the object of a kind of warfare never before practised in the civilised States—submarines were to sink merchantmen at sight, without search or parley, but it must not be supposed that because the attack was extraordinary, a good defence cannot bo made. He warned the public that losses would bo incurred, but there would be no injury if traders acted in tho spirit of the gallant captain of the Laertes. All losses could be covered by Government insurance. Germany would not bo allowed to adopt a system of open piracy and murder, while she herself was protected by the bulwarks of international instruments, which she utterly repudiated and defied, and which we, much to our detriment, respected.

The House chuckled when Mr Churchill recalled the laws of (ancient Rome, which did not provide for tho crime of a parricide, but the judges were equal to the emergency. Some members were puzzled,and -Mr Asquith turned to Mr Hobhouse and explained the reference, stating that the parricide was sewed up in a sack with a dog, a viper, am: a cock and pitched into the Titter.

Mr Churchill concluded; “British

sea-power increasingly dominates the general situation, and in default of other favorable causes, it woidd alone have decided the issue of the war.”

threatened blockade

THE TIMES’ COMMENT. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, February 1(3. The Times, in a leader, says; “We expect Germany’s threatened blockade to be equally as futile as the raids of the French privateers in the old wars. They caused us heavy losses and inconvenience, hut they have not stopped our sea trade. The Admiialty’s measures may bring the blockade to an immediate and humiliating end.”

PROTESTS FROM HOLLAND.

(Received 8.30 a.nr.) Amsterdam, February 16

A Hague Note has been presented to Germany protesting against the declaration of a war zone, and pointing out that neutral vessels are entitled to examination before any hostile action is taken.

Holland has also notified Britain of her objections to the use of neutral flags.

THURSDAY’S WARNING.

Copenhagen, February 16

The German Admiralty, in a communique,, warns the public not to expect a sudden coup on the 18th, that date being only a warning to neutrals of stronger war measures. ANXIETY IN DANISH SHIPPING CIRCLES. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, February 16.

Copenhagen reports that Northern Europe is awaiting February 18th with anxiety. A hundred and fifty Scandinavian and sixty-two Danish steamei s are coming from overseas. Foodstuffs are urgently needed in Scandinavia and Denmark.

It is anticipated that the British breakfast tables will suffer from the German blockade.

A STRANDED WATrRPLANE PLUCKY GERMAN AIRMEN MEET THEIR FATE. United Press Association. (Received 8.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, February 16. A lifeboat at Schiermonnik Island answered distress signals and found a German waterplane stranded on a sandbank. The crew of the lifeboat refused to promise that they should not be interned. The airmen decided to wait their chance of rescue by a torpedo boat, and they clung for five hours in a rising storm to their machine. They were then again compelled to signal the lifeboat, but she was too late to rescue them. MORE MINE-LAYING. SECRET GERMAN NOTE TO SCAN* DINAVI AN GOVERNMENTS.

THE USE OF PAINTED SIGNS.

(Received 8.30 a.m.) Amsterdam, February 16

Stockholm newspapers have announced that the Scandinavian Governments have received a secret Note from Germany notifying that the Neutrals’ signs which are being painted on the sides of vessels would not save them.

The Note further warns neutrals that mine-laying would be greatly increased after the 18th inst.

The Rotterdam German Consul has issued a similar memorandum to the Chamber of Commerce, and adds: — English merchantmen have been armed with guns and instructed to ram suitmarines and drop bombs if they come alongside and to slay German searching parties.

PILOT VESSEL MINED AND SUNK IN THE BALTIC.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, February 16. A vessel which was guiding German torpedoers in the mine zone was mined and sunk at Burkina Island. A NEW EMDEN. GERMAN COLLECTION FOR THE PURPOSE. (Received 8.30 a.m.) Amsterdam, February 16. Upon the sugegstion of the army and navy staffs, collections have been made by the German armies in France, Belgium, ami Boland for the purchase of a new Enulen. Regiments at Rheims collected 2000 marks in two days.

IRON CROSSES' FOR THE EMDEN’S LANDING PARTY.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, February 10. The F.mden’s landing party who escaped in the schoner Ayesha received Iron Crosses.:

BRITISH SHIPOWNERS’ PHILOSOPHIC CALM.

THE DESPERATION OF PIRATES.

Times and Sydney Sun Service, (Received 8 a.m.) London, February 16

The German threat has not caused alarm to British shipowners, who await Thursday with philosophic calm, and the sailings have not been altered. They regard the threat as an act of desperation, and do not consider it a serious menace. As a legitimate means to fairly cripple British sea trade it is unthinkable, and the methods fouler than those employed by pirates. The shipowners are prepared for a certain number of losses, hut they do not believe the submarines will ho permitted to have a long career of murder. Remembering the manner in which the German vessels cleared off to outer seas, it is confidently expected that in this campaign, which has smaller scope, the result will he 'speedy success. ft is understood that a number of the large German submarines which are suitable for operations at a distant base will have a limited existence owing to their dependence on oil from supply-ships.