PACIFIC IN WAR TIME.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1920, Page 5

PACIFIC IN WAR TIME.

WORK OF AUSTRALIAN NAVY. [[ _—_ "' ADMIRAL VON SPEE'S BREAD,; 1 ,/tt ,*'"■■«■■■ -alawn*..- ■ ' ~ London, March 8. ■ Sir Julian Corbett, the well-know naval writer, in the first two volun>*a o his official naval history of the WW, tfa votes nine chapters to the Pacific an Australian interests. He states that th Admiralty did not forsee the springin; up of the vast mercantile shipping organ isation, or the dimensions of the Domil ions' contributions. These necessitate frequent convoys at critical times, wad the Emden and other enemy warship displayed amazing powers for miaahief. Kir Julian Corbett mentions Admin Patey's occasional immobility, W praises the excellence of the Australian bush-fighting in New Guinea. The Cta man Admiral von Spee, ho says, dretdjl the Australia as superior to his who squadron, and the Commonwealth's m diness to place tho Australian fleet in tt hands of the Admiralty is specially « tolled. The writer claims that this was Vitl to success, but admits that the Ausbra ian Government, in deferring to the Ai miralty and delaying its convoys, did til reckon with public opinion, which dl not perceive the value of the prolong and methodical operations in ousting t) enemy from the Pacific. The public/r garded only the British failures, tho Cl cables, and the triumphs of the raidei and hence a marked reaction was obser; ed when the Admiralty was compelled f restrain the Commonwealth from sendil

transports unescorted. Tho result 'yn loud complaining that the Governmei had not kept the Commonwealth's && in its own hands. j Sir Julian Corbett claims that .tl prodigious nature of the task, the Ui preccdented nature, of the war, the ill mensity of the volume of trade, and tl intricacy of the web of ocean rputi make the navy's success greater than tl most sanguine had hoped,