THE JUTLAND BATTLE

Taihape Daily Times, 1 April 1919, Page 7

THE JUTLAND BATTLE

-Xou that the war is over, we may begin to rind out something about it. The Censor is becoming more indulgent, and the light is filtering in. Much —very much—remains to be told nf the doings of the Silent Service, for it is precious little we have learnt of the anti-submarine operations. But of the great naval battle of Jutland some important details are now available. Mr A 11. Pollen, the able naval export, has just published a book. ‘“The Navy in Battle ” and n<: speaks clearly and with knowledge or the battle. We had always lo.okec: upon this, the world’s greatest se light, as a victory for the British Navy but not such a win as we had been Jed to expect. In the number of his ships, in the:;mAe. and quality, and speed, and in the weight of his heavy armanum'., Jeilicoe completely outclassed Sctu'e.-. What would they have said in the old days if Hawke or Rodney had met the enemy fleet with an equal preponderance, and at the end of the eonfiici

the enemy'had been able to put haem, injured and battered indec, but intact and in good order? Air Pollen shows in his book {hot Admiral Beatty’s battle-cruiser squa('■■ou found itself in contact, with von Hipper’s battle-cruisers which were

the advance guard of the German High Seas Fleet. Beaty at once seized Ids He know his business was to pin down the German Fleet until our Grand Fleet. could get within range. He got his teeth into the German van, and hung on. though suffering severe losses. It was the right conception, and carried out with consummate tactical skill. Shortly after 6 o’clock on May • 32, 1916, Beatty had outflanked the Gorman High Seas Fleet, and Jellicoe’s squadrons were almost in touch; and there was half an hour of good light, But Jcllicoe, menaced by a torpf—’D attack, widened the interval between the two fleets. Somewhere about r o’clock Jellicoe altered • his course again, this time towards the Germans but Scheer had by this time extricated ids fleet from its most imminent danger, and under cover of smoke screen* and the darkness disappeared to wares his own coasts. Jcllicoe might havs searched out the Geramn ships nex?

morning, and thoroughly beaten thorn, though this would probably have entailed serious losses. Would Jellicoe have been justified in taking large risks with his Fleet? The question will probably be discussed without finality. Jellicoe did not gain a decisive victory but. the German fleet never came out again—except to ignominiously surrender.