The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1915. BRITAIN'S NAVAL POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1915. BRITAIN'S NAVAL POWER.

Since the advent of Mr. Balfour as First Lord of the Admiralty, the policy of secrecy and silence which was instituted by Mr. Churchill lias undergone a change, and we now have some idea—though it i« even yet less than we desire—of the part that Britain's grand fleet is taking in the present war. We knew that, with the exception of a few submarines, all German vessels had been swept off the seas; we knew that our produce was practically immune from danger, that our expeditionary forces and reinforcements had been safely taken to their destination, and that our sick and wounded were in like manner being brought back to the dominion, but as to the real work of the Navy we were in complete ignorance beyond its performances at the Dardanelles and in a few engagements with German warships. Mr. Balfour himself recently lifted the veil of mystery, in a letter to a correspondent, and, since then, Mr. Palmer, one of the most experienced American war correspondents, has been allowed to visit Admiral Jellicoe's fleet and publish the impressions derived from the visit. Needless to say, he did not find the fleet "somewhere in the Arctic Circle'' hiding from the' naval bloodhounds of von Tirpitz, as was stated in the story that not long ago caused Berlin to jubilate. What he saw was a seem-' ingly endless line of ships which blocked the way to German ambition—a picture of war and preparedness that was most pregnant in its suggestion of irresistible, concentrated power, which made the imagination turn feeble at the thought of how immense would be tlw Armageddon should the German fleet ever give battle. Mr. Palmer's account of this memorable visit conies at a most opportune tiriie, and from a source that even Germany must regard as unimpeachable —that of a neutral American. If Germany is in any way open to conviction on the question of whether she can crush Britain or her overseas dominions, this tremendous battle fleet, which is only a portion of the Empires naval

force, should put all doubt at rest, for before Germany's wild dreaiqs of world conquest can be realised evfery one of these powerful battleships must be accounted for. The story told by Mr. Palmer should not only increase the pride and confidence we possess in our grand Navy, but it should impress our enemies, as well as the neutral States, with the reality of Britain's might on sea, destined to ensure the protection of the weak and the upholding of the cause of true liberty. Another visitor to the fleet was M. Rene Bazin, a well-known Frfench writer and traveller, who states that be learned by various means that the British have struck such a powerful blow at the German undersea fleet. that, though it can annoy, it cannot secure a definite decision. We have it from Mr. Balfour himself that the British fighting fleet is relatively stronger than it was thirteen months ago, and the strengthening process continues with unabated energy. One result is that the British mercantile tonnage is greater than ever, in spite of enemy submarines. Besides her fleet, Britain has 2300 trawlers, mine sweepers, and auxiliaries. On the whole, it is gratifying to know what the visitors to the fleflt have seen. We may with the utmost confidence rely on the Navy to uphold its glorious traditions and secure the safety of the Empire. | j