The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1918. A BRILLIANT NAVAL EXPLOIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1918. A BRILLIANT NAVAL EXPLOIT.

The annals of the British Navy teem with daring deeds in which cool courage, resource and strategy are fittingly blended. Remembering what an important part the Navy played in the operations at GaJlipoli, it was particularly appropriate that on Anzac Day the press should record one of the most brilliant and daring exploits recorded in naval historv. In coping with the submarine menace, it is obvious that the most effective plan is to absolutely prevent their outlet to the sea, so that in point of importance the recent successful operations of the Xavy at Zeebrugge and Ostend should rank as a great victory. Of the two submarine bases mentioned, Zeebrugge is by far the more important, owing to the fact that it is the coastal terminal of the Bruges Ship Canal. The possession of this waterway has enabled the enemy to assemble submarines far inland, beyond the reach of attack, and then send them forth 01; tbeir mission of destruction. Xo imagination is required to grasp the importance, from .1 German point of view, of Zeebrugge,

and it goe-i ' without saying ili.it every measure was taken by the enemy to make this base secure by all that modern science and weapons could device. Tnto this lionict's next oia gallant naval men entered boldly and fearlessly, although it wuii considered to he impregnable. The plan of operations had been given most careful consideration, every movement! being Scheduled, as success could only | he obtained by the utmost, promptitude, | daring and skill, with the result that j Zeebrugge was ell'ectually stopped up, so that, for the time being at least, the submarine danger in that quarter baa been countered. Apparently the operations at Ostend were not so completely successful, but there is every reason to believe that the damage there is appreciable, and it may be assumed that, having so far succeeded, the Navv will not rest satisfied until both these bases are rendered useless to the enemy. When it is considered that the operations included the landing of a party of men in order to sink the vessels containing concrete at the exact spot necessary to completely block up the channel, the extreme danger of the raid becomes apparent, especially as the harbor was so strongly fortified and protected by longrange guns. Under the circumstances the announcement that the casualties were heavy is not surprising, the marvel being that any of the attacking party and ships came through the ordeal. On many occasions the work's at Zcebrugge and Ostend have been heavily bombed by aircraft, but for a naval flotilla to shepherd old cruisers filled with concrete into this zone of extreme danger and to sink these vessels at the right spot according to plan, as if it were a peace manoeuvre, was an almost incredible ieat, only ttat the protective power of the Navy was doing its share in the exploit. No enterprise during the war lia 3 been surrounded with such difficulties and dangers, yet when volunteers were called for the response far more than supplied the required number of men, so eager were they to take part in what will undoubtedly be one of the most gallant incidents of the war. Apart irom the sinking of blocking-up ships, there was considerable damage caused to Zeebrnggo harbor and its mole, the monitors carrying out an intense bombardment, To carry out this dangerous work in the dark and in a mine-infested area, required those special qualities for which the officers and men of the Navy are famed, and they emerged from the task triumphant, adding yet another to the long list .of superb acts of heroism that illuminate our naval records. It was a characteristic and graceful act of King George to promptly express his congratulations on the success of the operations, and his pride and admiration of the splendid gallantry displayed "under exceptionally hazardous circumstances." in S(J doing his Majesty voiced the sentiments of the whole Knv pire. It must not, however, be supposed that the destruction of the seagate at Zeebrugge and the partial blocking of Ostend will put an end to the submarine danger, but it will, for some time necessitate the submarines having to enter the North -Sea from the Heligoland Bight, and so increase their chances of destruction, besides having a great effect on the morale of the men manning the submarines, and for this we may well praise the Navy and its hero-ic men.