The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1917. THE ANCHOR OF THE ALLIES' CAUSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1917. THE ANCHOR OF THE ALLIES' CAUSE.

In a recent speech delivered in the House of Commons, the British Premier (Mr. Lloyd George) paid an eloquent tribute to the work of the Navy, which he aptly described aa the "anchor of the Allies' cause." There is a deeply rooted affection for the Navy throughout the Empire, and though it has only been on a few occasions during the war that our first line of defence has appeared in the limelight, its work has none, the less been of the utmost consequence in the conduct of hostilities and in the defence of the Motherland. Some conception of the vast work it 'has accomplished may be gathered from Mr. Lloyd George's statement, in which he pointed out that the Navy had, during the war, transported thirteen million men, two million horses, twenty-five million tons of explosives, fifty-one million tons of coal and oil fuel, and one hundred and thirty million tons of food and other materia. In spite of the utmost efforts of the enemy there were only three thousand five-hundred men lost out of the thirteen million, enemy action accounting for two thousand seven hundred of these. In addition to this great record, the Navy has been defending the shores of the United Kingdom, Blockading enemy ports, sweeping the seas for raiders, acting as convoy, doing its best to combat submarines and keeping constant watch for enemy warships. There was, said the Minister, no ocean, bay or estuary used for commerce which was not patrolled by tho British Navy, and the danger of the task was proclaimed by the casualties, which were proportionately equal to those of the Army, yet through all the command of the sea had been maintained. At the Dardanelles, Mesopotamia, Salonika, the Adriatic and in every other war area where warships, destroyers, submarines or monitors could operate, there the Navy has done gond service, and to-day it is stronger,-better equipped and better organised tban ever. On those rare occasions in which the German ileet has dared to venture forth it has been speedily compelled to beat an ignominious retreat and suffer considerable losses. The greater part of the Navy's work has been performed unostentatiously and quietly, and it will not be until after the war is over that

we shall know what our ships aiul our boys in blue have accomplished. One has only to look at the map u! the world to arrive at a fair conception oi the vast operations entrusted to the British Navy. ' "If,' siaid Mv. Lloyd George 111 the course of his generous tribute, "the Navy had been .defeated, even a year ago, our, armies in France Mesopotamia, Salonika and Egypt would have languished and finally vanished for lack of support in men and material." liven a schoolboy can understand that if the Navy lost its holt 1 the hope of the Allies would be shattered. With so widely a scattered Empire the work of the Navy must at all times be extensive, but in a time of war such as we are passing through, that work has increased beyond all imagination. Mr. JJovd George is deserving of warm commendation for so worthily presenting the claims of the Navy to the gratitude of the Empire. Apparently the future presents an even greater sphere of work, for there can be 110 doubt that the Germans will strive their utmost to destroy the transports carrying American troops to Europe, for they know full well that though they sneered at the idea of the United States being a factor in the ultimate decision of the struggle, that the vast resources of America will enable the Allies to be victorious or to prolong the wrtr until Germany is utterly exhausted. Whatever successes have been gained by the Imperial land forces have been rendered possible by the'assistance of tho sea forces. There has been no lack of criticism on Admiralty administration, but never the slightest hint of mistrust in the Navy itself, and tho spirit that' places such supreme confidence in this branch of the service is that which has animated our forefathers for generations. Naturally great disappointment has been felt at the havoc made by U boats on our merchant ships, but there is no real cause for any complaint on this score when it is considered that it is by her submarine campaign .that Germany hoped, and still hopes, to I win the war.