ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1915, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

GERMANY'S FLEET, EXCUSES FOR FAILURE, IMAGINARY TRIUMPHS. „ ■ London, August I. Count Reventlow has published a review of the year's naval warfare in the New York World, justifying the German fleets apparent inactivity. He states that the naval programme was not completed in 1914; moreover, when projected, it was not expected that Russia and Japan would be in alliance with Britain. Since the autumn half-a-'dozen British submarines had been in the Baltic assisting the Russians, necessitating the stationing of a portion of the German fleet there, Germany has been suffering from paucity of harbors. Whereas the British knew we were in the Bay of Heligoland, our torpedo-boats Jiad no definite place to hunt the British. The British had decided upon a strategy of sorties alternating with one of holding back. She hoped thus continuously to weaken Germany without running serious risk.

Received August 2, 5.5 p.m. London, August 1, Count Reventlow continues:—British strategy came to naught, owing to the German mines and submarines, which made a continuous stay of the British main fleet in the North Sea impossible. They had to be content with occasional sorties, and then returned to the Irish Sea or to the west and north of Scotland, Well-informed Germans never based any hopes on cruiser warfare, as they knew that forces were lacking to carry it out on a large scale. The glorious career of the Emden came to an end, and von Spec's squadron was destroyed by a tremendously superior force, but tlie glory which the German sea-flghters won constitutes a lasting success, and always demonstrated that, ship for ship, they were superior to the English. The same thing was shown in the cruiser battlo last January, when the Tiger was sunk, the Lion put out of action, and all the other cruisers heavily damaged.

MR. BALFOUR'S REPLY. SHATTERS GERMAN DELUSIONS. BRITISH NAVY'S GREAT WORK. Received August 2, 5.5 p.m. London, August 1. The Press Bureau issues Mr. Balfour's reply. Mr. Balfour says he does not deßire to belittle the courage and skill of German sailors. Doubtless they had done all that was possible in honorable warfare, whereto they were inclined, and the dishonorable warfare required of them by the superiors. The fact that the German fleet avoided fighting was hardly a triumph. The exploit was well within the competence of the least efficent fleet under a capable commander. The process of attrition of the British fleet which Germany threatened had not commenced. Not 'a British ship had either been sunk or seriously damaged in the sea fight, and we had not lost even a cockle boat on January 18. The naval equality which Germany desired was now more remote than it was a year ago. Apart from purely imaginary triumphs, Count Reventlow dwells with pride and satisfaction on the attack upon undefended Yorkshire towns. This exploit was aB inglorious as it was immoral; two or three fast cruisers crossed the North Sea at night, bombarded an open watering place, and killed a number of civilians. After an hour and a half of this gallant performance they retired in safety to their own defended waters. Nevertheless,' it would be better to invent stories like the sinking of the Tiger than to boast of such feats of arms as that of Scarborough. Count Reventlow's apology for the higher fljet only amounts to praise of German mines and submarines. The mines were scattered at random, and have been responsible for the destruction of much neutral shipping and some vessels The submarine fighting which Germany introduced was nothing' except their employment against defenceless merchantmen and unarmed trawlers. This was certainly never foreseen, either at Washington or in London; it was purely German. Count Reventlow is profoundly mistaken if he supposes that these murderous methods have directed economic life in England in the slightest degree; they have only fixed an indelible stain on the fair name of t.he German navy. The British liavoi successfully, performed all the functions possible; no German commerce or ships are now on the ocean, and Allied commerce is more secure from attack than ever since Trafalgar. The German fleet is so impotent that no invasiy:) of Britain h possible, qr has even jeer, attempiod. British troops, in number unparalleled in history, moved over the seas and the fleet secured supplies for these armies, and also upon occasion assisted the armies' operations, Germany has seen her colonics wrested from her one by one, while unable to land a man or a gun in their defence. No fleet has ever done more, and citizens of tho British Empire can only hope that the second vear of the war will show no falling off in success, as it will assuredly show no relaxation of the navy's efforts.

NORWEGIAN VESSELS BURNED. AN!) THE FLAG DISHONORED. Copenhagen, August 1. The crew of the Harboe report that a German officer ordered the Norwegian flag to he soaked in petroleum and burned.,- Four other Norwegian vessels were set on fire in tho vicinity. The commander of tho destroyer, before sinking the Nogvill, declared that his vigil would soon be over, and he could not return without some result. INCREASE IN SHIPPING. IN BRITAIN AND AMERICA. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received August 2, !>."> p.m. London, August 1. Lloyd's Register discloses that, despite the wastage of war, the shipping tonnage registered in Britain for the year ended .Tune SO increased three hundred thousand tons. The recent law facilitating transfer of shipping to the American flag probably accounts for the American increase of 550,000 tons. For influenza taJce Woods' Grwit Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is fld, 2s fikl. For chronic chest complalntu, Woods' Great JPeppewnint Cure, 1« fld, f« 3d.