THE GREAT SEA FIGHT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 89, 14 December 1914, Page 2

THE GREAT SEA FIGHT.

The later reports show that the/rejsult of the naval battle off the Fa-In-land Islands was even more satisfactory than the first messages gave one to suppose. The Admiralty made no mistake this time in dealing with the enemy, and although the composition of the British squadron has not been revealed, one may be quite sure that it consisted of fast, modern ships, heavily armed. The Scharnhorst and Gneisehau were formidable vessels with their big, modern guns, how formidable may be judged from the very vivid account of the light off the coast of Chili. In that battle the British were unexpectedly called upon to face them with ships greatly inferior in armament, and the contest was one-sided from the commencement. In fact, as the account shows, there was not the slightest doubt of the result when the Germans were sighted. They were superior in speed and armament and had matters all their own way.

However nice it may be to read of battles between ships of equal power, of fights of pluck little Revenges against mighty galleons, that is not the way in which great naval battles arc to be won. The whole aim of the naval commander is to concentrate a force against the enemy that will put the issue beyond all reasonable doubt. The Dresden, the Nurnberg and the Leipzig could be dealt with by the smaller ships and if the British information had been accurate the battle off the Chili coast would never have been fought. The Good Hope and the Monmouth were searching for the smaller German cruisers, and the Germans, thanks, no doubt, to their secret wireless stations, were able to meet the Britishers with superior force, , It then became a matter of urgent moment that the Germans should be put out of action. Vessels of the China squadron and fast Japanese ships doubtless scoured the Pacific, while the possibility of the escape of the Germans into the Atlantic was met by the despatch of a powerful squadron from European waters. The Admiralty had news of the movements of the German ships, and it may be remembered that the censor allowed a hint to slip through in an American message indicating that the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had been located off the mouth of the River Plate. Evidently the Germans realised that they could not get through to the north, and they were gradually shepherded south. Probably if they had succeeded in getting back to the Pacific they would have found another allied squadron waiting for them there.

THE LAND CAMPAIGNS S There is nothing outstanding in last week-end's messages concerning either Franco or Kussia to call for detailed comment, for in the western area the forward movement of the allies was continued virtually without check, and there was no news of value from the other side. An indication of the arduous nature of the work confronting the allies in France is given in a portion of the official message. For weeks past a severe struggle has been in progress in the country to the east of Amiens, and some little time ago the allies, making heroic efforts, pushed their lines along t ’To road to Peronne. The advance evintly alarmed the enemy, for his poston was immediately strengthened, and he allies had hard work to secure the new line. Now it is reported that the allies have advanced, in the neighouvhood of the earlier fighting, by a few