The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1914. COMMAND OF THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 72, 14 August 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1914. COMMAND OF THE SEA.

Will the German fleet venture out their bases and measure strength with the blockading British? That is a question wthieh is presenting itself to many minds at the present juncture. If not, then the millions upon millions expended upon it by the ambitious Germans will have been absolutely wasted, and the German navy will not have justified, or even attempted to justify, itself. On the other hand, the G*rman9 know tlhat to come out and attack the British they will be in a position of such inferiority that their attempt to break through the iron cordon will be foredoomed to failure. The German navy is in this respect very much in the same position as the ill-fated Russian fleet that sailed from the Baltic for Japan. The Germans, however, are not Russians. They are more careful, calculating and resourceful, and tfhey will not sally out unless they have a good chance of success. Possibly they will await a favorable opportunity, when, for instance, a fog descends upon the North Sea, or when they see the blockading line weakened at some point. If we can .believe recent cables, the British fleet holds the North Sea firmly. The day before yesterday we were told that all the maritime approaches to Germany are now closed. Britain holds an unrivalled natural strategical position in regarding to blocking the Germans, and one which she has taken full advantage of. One authority, Colonel J H. B. Hanna, recently showed that there are only two ways out of the North Sea—one round the north of Scotland and the other through the English Channel. If the German fleet tried to break through by the former, it would meet the British Atlantic Fleet, reinforced by the Channel Fleet, and be attacked in rear and in flank by the North Sea Fleet. Even if, by some ruse on thoir part or some negligence of ours, German men-of-war did reach the Atlantic, what could they do there, with no ports and only two coaling stations to resort to, and the British fleets they had eluded' in full chase? And, of course, an attempt to force a passage through the English Channel would be a still more hopeless undertaking, tor that channel is like a well-guarded," formidable mountain pass held by a superior force—a position which no prudent soldier would attempt to capture by direct attack, but would try to turn. There are few positions on land that cannot Ik- unfknked. but there is no possibility of turning the English Channel. Colonel Hanna concluded: "Nature has given to Great Britain a' position which carries with it supremacy of the sea: and it is of no use for Germany to try to wrest that supremacy, from her, because it is rooted in a natural advantage of which she cannot be deprived. It was Great Britain's position which enabled her to reduce Holland from a first-class to a third-classPow,-r. without once landing an army on lier shores, 'though the Dutch ships wore as numerous, as well manned, and as well fought as the English; and Great Britain's position would tell in exactlv the same way, and with greater force, in her favor in a war with Germanya war which for that very reason is never likely to be declared." Gemunv has a few warships in other waters. The Gooben 'and the' Breslau are in the Mediterranean, and hardly a day passes without our hearing of their movements, or supposed movements. They are safe,' for the French and British vessels are certain to account for them should tiu-y come within striking distance, which is improbable. There are one or two German warships in the Atlantic, and, according to a wire yesterday, the British have already engaged at least one In Chinese waters the Germans have ii squadron whidh up till last Sundav had not interfered with British property on land or .sea. Had thev done so the Japanese would, in conformity with their treaty with Britain, have ere this attacked them. Our allies aic spoiling for a fight, and to avenge' the wrong done them by Germany after the Jap-China war. At that time Germanv and Russia prevented Japan from obtaining the fruits of her victory, and then coolly proceeded to help themselves ■ to Chinese territory. Germany got a long lease of Kaiachao, which has since been a thorn in the side of Japan, who will, if wo mistake not, wrest it from her at. any time now. The Germans have a squadron of small, ineffective vessels ,n the Pacifk: The Condor, an unprotected cruiser 0 f ] 6 30 tons, and a' speed of 17 knots; tin- Cormoran, a similar vessel; and the Planet, a small surveying vessel of 10 knots. If the Australian fleet can only find the enemy short work will be made of them. The battle-cruiser. Australia, which is a simi- ' lar ship to the New Zealand (the battle- . ship we presented to the Motherland which , 8 now doing duty jn the North eea), could alone sink each of the German vessels .with shells from her 12in ffnw. The firing of the Australia, in ' the recent Admiralty tests, proved see- ' ond m the whole of the British Navy ! and the vessel could be depended unon I

to account for any Gorman vessels either in these or Chinese -waters. On the whole, therefore, we need have no fear of our commerce being held up, or the polonies being attacked, by marauding German warships, which, -on the other hand, will be more concerned about their own safety, and 'that of tjieir own mercantile marine, than about attacking the superior forces Britain can bring in bear against them in every sea.