The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1916. NOT AT ALL LIKELY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 39, 21 January 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1916. NOT AT ALL LIKELY.

The mere suggestion that the German fleet may be compelled to lace the dangers ol a trip to sea, outside the safety mark ol Kiel harbor, and that public opinion will force it for very shame’s sake to make some show of fighting British ships of war, is enough to make-the watch-dogs of the North Sea dance with joy. But the possibility is quite remote, and it will bo stern pressure indeed from behind that will make Tirpitz’s navy face British guns and British sailors. That the blockade is causing Germany inconvenience and even distress is probable, but there is no certainty that Germany is really short of food, and until the screw is put on by really stopping American supplies through neutral countries the blockade is nothing but a rather costly farce. It is suggested by one authority that the statements made hy German newspapers regarding fond shortage just at present, cannot ho implicitly delicti upon, as they may he intended to convey a wrong impression in Britain, thus prejudicing recruiting, but it is an undoubted fact that before the war Germany was a huge importer ol foodstuffs. Admiral von Tirpitz, we are also reminded, when Secretary for the Navy, impressed upon the Reichstag as a pica for naval expenditure, that twelve months’ blockade would he fraught with disastrous consequences to the German Empire. H is n«« nearer two years than one since the so-called blockade was lirsl started by Britain, and even granting that Germany is in sore straits lor I nod supplies. she would not he likely to gain much by the suggested naval sortie , i 1.1 • i .. r

unless she could he quite sure ol smashing the British fleets. Noilhei (fennan armies nor (iennan navies ever attack a stronger force than themselves if they can possibly get out of it. The whole history of the present war shows that they will not even meet an cpual force if they can avoid coining to grips until they are the immeasurably stronger s:do. I herefove there is little likelihood of I'irpit/.ks hold mariners of Kiel <-;ivdug the British seamen a chance to sn:l: an,’, more of their ships. If the advice

Britain is getting from the honorable and righteous press oi America is taken the Allies will set to work 1o make a real blockade of German pons that would he true humanity it it brought Prussian militarism to its death one week, or even one day. sooner.