1915-07-03 — Page 8

THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH

THE BRITISH FLEET.

THE WORK OF THE NAVY IN THE WAR.

By H.W. Wilson in "United Empire."

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1915.

antagoniste are of far more for- waters, weis kept fully manned. / been disclosed that each occasion weapon-whsther mine, submari- attacks were delivered on the powerful batteries. The current, shown great energy and insight,

ed so little loss in gaining what is

in effect the complete command

of the sea.

In the management of the naval campaign the Admiralty has

Fisher to Whitehall. No one especially since the advent of Lord would pretend that mistakes have been few, and they have been not been made, but they have

ion to Antwerp has been bitter by aesailed: To the writer it promptly retrieved. The expedi

seems justifiable, for two ressone because it delayed the move- against Ypres and Calais at a most ment of German reinforcements

enabled Englishmen to suffer and critical moment, and because it dis, side by side with the heroic Belgian army, in defence of a Belgian city. The despatch of Cradook with a weak squadren to the Pacific was more unfortunate and indefensible.

the laws of war-open towns were produced a good effect on the were so fast that they could laugh is no handicap on them when battle cruiser. So, that New bombarded and a large number German crews.

at the efforts of our warships engaging stationary objects a-Zealand's disinterestedness did of women and children, and non- Since this battle there have to catch them. combatants were killed or injured. been hints from many quarters

ahore. They have certain advant-not actually strengthen the British British strategy made provision in Germany that the German The best proof of the strength concentration of force and their wise bave been built by the ages in their thick armour, their Navy. Aship, which would other- against seriona military attacks people must not expect its fleet and efficiency of the Navy is per rapidity of fire from their smaller Mother Country was built of New promising the enemy valuable to fight the British in a pitched haps to be found in the remark. gans, which gives them the Zealand's expense. Had New results, but not against mere engagement. Admiral von Koes- able control of the ses which it power to smother the fort in dust Zealand retained control of her piracy and murder. The British ter was put up, almost immediate has obtained, and which it er and splintera thrown up by their ship, an extia. Dreadnought must strategists WOTA undoubtedly ly after the loss of the Blucher, ercises in conjunction with the projectiles. Gase in forts are have been laid down by Great wrong when they credited Ger- to announce that the German Allied feets. Insurance rates are rarely so well mounted as in Britain. And in that oase it is many with a humanity which she fleet would only nocept battle ifit little above normal, and are lower ships; and gunerewe sahore do probable that, had the New did not possess, and forgot that, could do so with every prospect than at any time in the Napole-not often reach the degree of Zealand's ship been stationed in The Royal Navy has now been 17, 1914. The primary object at the Hague Conference of 1907, of victory. Such a prospect it onic war. The advance in the rapidity and precision attained Chins watere, as w subjected to the sternest possi- of this mobilisation appears to the German delegates had betray can never enjoy in face of the cost of food in this country has afloat in the great navies. On the intended, von Spee would have ble test-nine months of war with have been the saving of money, the German Admiralty's inten- British Navy and the superiority not been caused by any action other hand, if a fort is to be been distroyed at the cutest of his originally a powerful and well-prepared its cost was about half that of on to repudiate sil restraints, of British gunners, unless, what of the enemy's fleet or cruisers, silenced its gans must actually be career and the Emden, would antagonist. It has stood the trial the usual naval maneuvres, which whether legal or ethical. altogether is improbable, we sap but by shortage of orops, by the hit, whereas a ship can be des never have escaped to commit well. If there have been no such wore to be dropped. But it result British Navy in the face of the is suddenly visited with sheer disappearance of the German her on the water-line or wrecking The loss of the Good Hope and The apparent impotence of the pose that the British Admiralty scarcity of tonnage, owing to the troyed or disabled by attacking depredations on British commerce. stupendous victories as Nelsoned in the British Navy boing German raiders undoubtedly led dementia. One of the chief or marine from the sea, and by the her hall with shell fire. gained in the struggle with France ready for war at a most critical a century ago, this has been moment. It is true that part of to searching of heart, and may game of the armament industry, employment of one-fifth of the The difficulties in the way of dock and 1,500 lives, would have Monmouth, with the gallant Cra- cause the Germans have refused the fleet was demobilised on Jaly even have produced in some the Rheniach Westfaliche Zei British mercantile on marine on the attack arise largely from the beer averted the one serious to risk their main flest at sea. 25, though the political situation quarters an impression that the tung, has even admitted that natal and transport duties. The hydrographical conditions. Sea defeat which the British Navy has And if, in the engagements fought, bad then become most dangerous. Admiralty and its Admirals had without some new weapon or come Navy has carried out this room is wanting when the straits stained in the War. the British have failed to annibi- The First and Second Fleets, how failed the country in a great emer- startling submarine success Ger- work of moving the oversea late the enemy opposed to them, ever,

are entered. The channel is representing the main gency. There would have been many cannot lask to obtain the forces to Europe, and

to narrow and tortuous; for nearly it must be remembered that their strength of the Navy in home 10 such impression had the fact mastery of the sea. But no new the various points at which forty miles it is commanded by midable quality thun in the Na- and the First Feel, in which were of escapes. On the first ruid the likely to destroy the ascendancy Britain to France, with faultless Mediterranean, bringe down Boat the Germans had the narrowest ne, or aircraft-is in the least enemy's territory, and from Great setting strongly towards the poléonio war. The French Navy all the Dreadnoughts on the home of 1805 had been grievously shaken station, was kept concentrated.

Germans got away by the skin of of the British battleships, battle organisation and brilliant success. ing mines against which mine by the excauses of the revolution, Thas no surprise attack was their teeth, losing the large are cruisers and destroyers. Indeed, There has been nothing like it in sweepers cannot guard and which and through financial difficulties practicable. Great Britain was moured cruiser Yorck on one of the new weapons bave proved on any war of the past. The rise in have caused the loss of three old was very indifferently equipped. given time to bring her vast their own mines in so doing. On the whole disappointing. All food and in prices has been far battleships. The loss of the sub- The German Navy is marked by reserves and resources into play. the second raid, they were saved were teated in this very Battle of less than was anticipated by the marine E 15, which grounded a solid discipline, and funds have With such effect has the Admiral- by a thick fog which came down the North Sea. Minea were drop-most sanguine thinkers before the during a reconnaissance, may also been lavished upon it for the past ty worked that an abundant when they were fairly trapped, ped by the escaping German War. To-day there is not one have been partly due to the our decade. Against such force superiority bas now been obtained, with the British battle-bruiser cruisers; submarines bobbed up single German commerce-destroy reats. Moreover, if the passage easy successes were not to be ex- thanks in part to the fact that four squadron on oso side of them and in the path of the British squad- er at large.

of merchantmen to the Black Sen pected, and it is somewhat sur-Dreadnoughts were building for the Second Battle Squadron in ron; aircraft appeared to attack

is to be assured, it is not enough prising that our ships have suffer- foreign navies in the country and overwhelming force on the other them from overhead. All were

were nearly complete st. the outside. Aided by the fog, they al powerless against well-handled operation in which the Navy has forts or ran past them. The coast By far the most interesting for the warships to silence the breek of ar. Our foros of Dread-ered course and were lost to view ships, though these various engaged is the attack on the on either side of the straits must noughts in home waters can fire Yet, even so, they did not get off menaces, perhaps, had some effect Dardanelles forts. It is not too be firmly held, and this can only two tons' weight of metal on the anatheless. The battle cruiser Von in leading the battle to be broken much to say that success here be accomplished by a considerable The most exacting critic will broadside for each ton fired by the der Tana was put out of action off before the German squadron might change the whole aspect of military force now that the Tarka admit that the officers and men of German Dreadnoughts. This is for some weeks, as the result of a had been completely destroyed.. the War. Russia urgently needs have been given ample warning the fleet have surpassed expeats an advantage which, judging from collision with the light cruiser As for the submarine, it cannot supplies of ammunition equipThe attack on the Dardanelles tions. Posterity will not forget events in the present war and in all Frauenlob in the fog.

be said to have fulfilled Sir Percyment, and arms for the multitude has provided work for the large the conduct of the seamen in the previous wars where the personnel. After two such narrow eicapes, Scott's anticipations before she of reserves which she is calling earplus of force which the Allies eubmarined craisers, Creasy, on either side had been approxi- it was morally certain that they war, though hereafter, as it is

In the department of Daval Hogue, and Aboukir, who went mately equal in training and would be caught when they next improved and perfected, it will up, and they cannot be poured in possess. The British and French to their death singing "It's a quality, should be absolutely attempted a

with the necessary speed by the pro-Dreadnoughts, which are

Construction and the design of long way to Tipperary," nor the decisive. Ia plain words, the actually happened. On January may compel the British people to and the Siberian railway. If the operation, are not required in the

raid. And this become extremely dangerous, and only zoutes now open-Arohangel being largely utilised for this ships, the War bas entirely justi

fied the foresight of: Lord Fisher Laurel's stokers who brought her German fleet has no chance of 25 a force of three German batile abandon the reliance on imported Black Sea route could be oleared North Sea, where, indeed they are and the emphasis which he laid safely home, working in scalding success in a pitched battle. craisers and one large armoured food. It has not yet caused any it is ideal for the importation of only in the way and a source of upon heavy guns and high speed. water, nor Captain Lorley's warn Strong though our fleet is, and oruisor (Blucher), with numerous fundamental change in the con- these military, requisites. The danger from their low speed and The Dreadnought type bas ing that other ships should leaveable though it has been to give light cruisers and destroyera, was ditions of war at sea, but it is naval foros available is extremely liability to sabmarine attacks. It abundantly vindicated itself the sinking Formidable to her suck extraordinarily efficient pro-sighted off, the Dogger Bank by undoubtedly true that its develop-powerful consisting mainly of is always sound policy to utilise against those who taught that the fate because there were submarin-tection to British commerce and the British small craft and by five ment has given the weaker Navy old British and French battle your entire foros against the more rapid fire of a number of es at hand, nor the breathless to the immense convoys transport. British battle cruisers under a power of causing annoyance and ships with a few modern British enemy, continuously and concur the limited number of projectiles small gune would prevail against voyage of B 11ap the Dardanelles ing troops from the Dominione Vice-Admiral Sir David Besity, loss to the stronger which did not units, conspicuous among them rently; and the attack on the under the Turkish mines. The and the Mother Country to France 28,000 yards away." The Germans exist in the same degree in the the magnificent new Queen Dardanelles took pressure off the discharged by ships armed only deeds of this generation at sea and Egypt, it has not been able showed none of the spirit of the past. The old line-of-battle ship Elizabeth, mounting eight gi- Russian army in the Caucasus with large guns, In overg have been worthy of the most to seal the German ports by a offensive. On splendid traditione of the past, close blockade. The explanation though the odds against them way, from any craft emaller than nearly a ton weight, which may It compelled the German masters.

the contrary, bad nothing to fear, in a military gantic 16-in, gans with shells of and the British army in Egypt. Bagement in this War, volory has gone to the bigger guns, The and nothing could sarpass the of this may perhaps be found in were by no means hopeless bad herself, after the fire-ship had he regarded as the Navy's reply of the Turks to concentrate the most decisive test was applied spirit of every officer and man in the apparition of the submarino, they been well handled, they been discarded. The modern to the German 17-in. howitzers on Turkish army near Constantin in the Battle of Coronel Admiral

and the enormous aes of the mine. turned and made off at top spoed, line-of-battle ship, bowover, may land.

Cradock's two British armoured The submarine, in the phrase of pursued by the British. A squad- bo sank by the submarine's tor-

ople, when they had intended to

cruisere fired on the broad- victory has gone to the ships or blown

In every above-water oacount, the New York Times, has ron which bolts in this fashion is pedo, unless an extraordinary that ships could not engage forte | Russian reinforcements from elde a slightly heavier weight of

Until recent years it was held dee it to cow Bulgaria, divort squadrons with the superior smithereens." It ie no

vloge blockades "to bound to lose its slower ships, and degree of vigilanos is maintained, without incurring every risk of Poland, and interrupt traffic metal in a given time than Ad if vigorously chased and attacked and elaborate precautions are disaster. Ericason, the inventor through the Suez Canal. But whereas the Germans could longer

miral von Spee's two big ships. weight of metal; and in every possible for a fleet to lie, with en The Britiah gained slowly on the destroyers always at hand in nam gan in a fort is worth a hundred the War, and the events which bring twelve heavy long-range above-water encounter at sea, with ginen stopped, off a hostile coast,

may be completely destroyed. taken. It is necessary to have of the Monitor, has said that "one

On one vexed point of policy the exception of Coronel, where as in the days of the Americans of the German ships, engaged, aad in the British Navy the des- the same view, though more shed light-the question whether wo, the reat of their fire being Admiral Cradock was completely Spanish and American Civil wars.

Blacher, the weakest and slowest bere when submarines are about, afloat

and Mehan expressed immediately preceded it have guns to bear, the British had only uver-powered, the British have The British plan has been to and inflicted on her terrible dam-troyer has tended to become an cautiously. But conditions have it is beat for the Dominions to Von Spee chose a range at which had that superiority. The obiter watch the German naval bases age; of the other German ships, anti-submarine perhaps because been radically altered by three maintain navies of their own in the larger guns could, and the delivered from smaller weapons. dicta of each writers as Admiral with small craft and submarines, one was badly on fireand a second the German destroyers have fants: the development of modern time of peace, or in place of build-smaller guns could not, fire will Sheger and General Bernhardi holding the British battle fleet at showed signs of injury. Cator-proved so inferior in battle that scientific gunnery; the introducing ships, to contribute money to effect. In such conditions the show that the Germans, before the a distance. Whenever the Gertunately, at this juncture, when they dare not come cat and facetion of the Dreadnought type, with the British Navy. Australia British were overpowered, and War hoped to atone for their mans came out in any strength, Admiral Beatty had the battle the powerful guna of our boats: its large battery of well-protected, followed the first course. As the destroyed and all their heroio numerical inferiority at 88 by our battle feat was warned by in bis hands, bis flagship was making a surprise attack with wireless, and Admiral Sir John struck by a lucky shot which tem- aubmarine is best proved by the apparition of aircraft, which give the Australia), two light oraisers, old saying, "Men fight, not ships," The strategic impotence of the heavy long-range gans; and the result she had one battle cruiser galinatry did not save them. The their whole High Sea Fleet upon Jellicos could make his disposi porarily reduced her speed, and failure of the Kaleor's Rotills to the means of directing the fire of three destroyers, and two sub is proved by this instance, and by our naval forces at some momenttions accordingly. when these ware ill-prepared or

she dropped far behind the other torpedo a single British transport auch guns against invisible tax-marines in Australisa waters every event in this Wex to he no It is quite clear that, with such ships. While he was shifting his or battleship. It is possible that gets at an enormous distance. In when war broke out. This was longer true; if indeed it ever was, souttered. It was for this that a strategic plan, fast German sg, the action was broken off by this amazing record of immunity 1878, when Admiral Hornby was fortunate, as Admiral von Spee's The best men with bad or weakly, Germary maintained five-sixtha ships could put to sea, and it his second in command and the will be broken hereafter; for there ordered to force the Dardanelles, powerful fleet escaped from armed ships are mere food for of her ships in commission with they were prepared to encounter other British battle craisers re- is no doubt that the German the maximum effective range of Teingtan and eluded the British fishes; as an infantryman a full crews, in North Sea watere, great risks might even reach the tired, only the Blucher having crews are improving with practice a warehip's guns was 1,000 yards; China squadron. But for the with a Brown Bess would stand always ready to strike, while the British const. The sex is wide;

been sunk. British force in permanent readithe southern portion of the North

and that large German bosts in the average of hits at that range Australian force, the Australian no chance, whatever his bravery, ness at home was not much more Sea has an area of over 200,000 complete. Bat nevertheless it completed. But against this may fire from each gun, one shot in raided and the Australian conat a Lee-Enfield magazine. Tons

The victory was

was thus far from porsiderable numbers are being was 10 per cent; and the rate of coast would probably have been against on opponent armed with than one half the Royal Navy. square miles, or four times that definitely established moral sa be set the introduction of better four or five minutes. Now the towns laid under contribution or and guns do count in war, and The plan miscarried, Germany of England; and whateyor efforts.cendancy of the British Navy over methods of anti-submarine war-range is anything under 20,000 destroyed. That would have been we may all be thankful that they seems to have decided upon war, the British commander made, the the German. The British apffer fara in the British Navy. A yards for the bigger guns; the grievous humiliation for the were on our side at sea. - H.W. though possibly not with Great enemy's vessels might always ed the most trifling loss in men magnificent fest has been so average of hits at that range pro- Empire and for the Mother in Wilson United Empire, Britain, on or about July 15, seit elude him. When a long line of and the damage to the British complished by that Navy in bably 25 per cent.; and the rate Country. Moreover, when the was then that she issued special 700 miles bas to be guarded, there ships weaslight. On the other hand, preventing any deadly anbmarine of fire can be raised to one or two class of von Spee began, the (To be Continued on Monday, instructions to her ehipaon foreign must be gaps through which on the Dorflager is known to have attack upon our sports or our rounds a minute. Thus ships Australia was in a good position service and despatched colliera to alert antagonist could lip. This been badly injured and to have trade. What encoesses the Ger which mount this powerful long to head him off and drive him them. The Bethanis, for exactually happened twice, and may on more important than these ed in their "blockade" have heen forte can, if there is abundance of The other plan was tried by ample, afterwarde osptured by the happen again. Ia November a

lost nearly one third of her crew. man under water craft have gain-range ordnance when attacking east. British in the Atlantic, sailed on squadron of German battle- material results was the confid- won, for the best part, against sea-room, place themselves so that New Zealand. She built a battle July 15 from South Wales. At craigers and armoured cruisers once in British leadership and merchantmen of small size and the forta cannot reply, and can orniser at her own cou, but- this particular date a surprise at- made a raid against Zermouth gunnery which was established by low speed in British waters. Even destroy them in succession with under pressure from the British Gibraltar May 27-Daring a tack on the British fleet held out and fired a number of shells at the battle. Before it there was here the German submarines have concentrated fire. no prospect of success because the the town, fortunately without some anxiety lest the German not as yet proved so dangerous to If it is necessary to approach to placed the abip at the Brit ich terday a cloud belched forth Admiralty with signal patriot um thunderstorm in the vicinity yes batore Biely Nay wa 250 bis causing any injury. In Decem-superior to ir own Actually it property an were the French and closer quarters, the old ships, Government' dirposal. As sie milions by rose up from between July 15 and 25, in acber this raid was repeated against superior to our own. Actually it American privateers which, in the provided they are available in result, the British Treasury foro ed evidently been sucked up from cordance with an sanouncement Hartlepool, Scarborough, made by Mr. Charohill on March Whitby, when in defiance of all abandonment of their commrades war infested the Channel and effect. Their chief defect for reduce the meagre shipbuilding ground was positively swarming and proved distinctly inferior; and the closing years of the Napoleonio large numbers, can be used with the British naval authorities to the lake twenty miles away. The

in the Blucher, could not have frinh Ses: These sailing vessels Sghting wint of speed proposals by the equivalent of one with them;

the Grand Fleet.

..

4

A

Cloudburst of Frogs

en-

armed