SEA POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1940, Page 3

SEA POWER

LORD CHATFIELD’S SURVEY OF WAR EFFORT GERMANY’S RUTHLESS POLICY. FIGHT AGAINST VICIOUS ENEMY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. February 17. The Minister for Co-ord-inal ion of Defence, Lord ('hat field, in a speech in Cardiff, reviewed the war efforl al sea, in the air and on land. “Lof ns remember,” he said, “Hint the British Empire was built up by sea power, and so long' as we keep the seii command we shall hold the Empire. Germany also realises the importance of our sea power, so she is endeavouring- to destroy us at sea. Unable to challenge us with surface ships, she tried and is still trying to destroy our commerce and that of neutral countries by the illegal use of the torpedo, mine and bomb. When Germany decides on a course of action she thinks will give her an advantage no sense of law or humanity is allowed one minute's consideration. "In the last war it took two years for her rulers to decide on what was called unrestricted warfare, against unarmed merchant ships. This time they started immediately. They knew they would be able to sink many ships before they were defensively armed or convoys organised. CALCULATED BAD FAITH.

"In a carefully-calculated way they loro up the treaties they had signed since the last war. To do so meant nothing to their present rulers, who. we cannot doubt, would equally tear up any other treaties anyone might be unwise to sign with them in future if to do so would give the needed advantage and surprise their victims. "This practice of murder on the high seas is a typical German invention never heard of except by pirates and buccaneers before Germany had a navy. “Then there is the indiscriminate sinking of neutral merchant ships, 119 having been sunk, totalling nearly 350,000 tons, of which nearly half has been deliberately torpedoed. "Fortunately our navy is well prepared for this treachery. It has sunk German surface ships that have ventured to sea. Her submarine fleet is reduced by half and will, I believe, continue to be destroyed at a greater rate than she can add to it. We shall equally liquidate, or shall we say purge, the sea of her minefields, but she is a crafty, vicious foe, and we shall have many losses as well and must not let them dismay us." STRENGTH IN THE AIR. Referring to the war in the air, Lord Chatfield said: "I am convinced that our air policy has been correct and wise. We gained valuable time to build up our own strength for attack and for the defence of these islands. We shall bring our great , and evergrowing air into play at the right instant. "Meanwhile, the army is preparing io play the groat part that undoubtedly awaits it. Today we have under training alone well over a million men."

After referring to the generous share contributed by the Dominions, colonies and India to the British effort, Lord Chai field referred to the progress of the gigantic task of providing powerful. . complicated arms and munitions lor all these forces. He referred in particular to the important contribution made in this regard by Waits.

“Let ns make no mistake about the task,’’ he said. “We have to defeat an enemy that for many years spent his whole effort preparing for war, that is highly efficient and cunning and has forcibly unified his people in support of his evil intentions. It is difficult to continue to fight with our natural spirit of chivalry against an enemy that acts with the mentality of a tiger.’’