The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-17
.BRITAIN'S DEFENSE
BEING CRITICISED
Expert Says War with Ger
many Would Be Fatal.
3READNoUGHrS A MISTAKE
Introduction of Enlarged Type of
Battle Ships Renders Fleet More or
Less ObsOIete-EnabIes Powers 10
Begin Race for Naval Supremacy.
sport Decreases Efficiency.

rrom TIE ehsof European correspondent Of The
Lsffau News Bureau.
London, Jan. 1s.-Naval men in Eng
land are discussing an article in the Janu-
airy number of the Deutsche Revue in
which y admiral Won Ahlefeld, a Ger
man naval expert, criticises Britain's first
line Of defense
The writer declares that war between
Great Britain and Germany under the
present political conditions would be dis
astrous. but not on account Of the guam
litative superiorityof the British feet over
The German fleet He argues that al
though the numerical superiority OF the
British navy Is formidable on paper, the
real superiority is not 80 great as to rem
Ger naval war a hopeless undertaking
sor Germany.
Want to Reveal Efficiency.
There exists IN Germany he says. "a
lively desire to become acquainted with
British armament which means in plain
language that German naval officers
from purely professional as distin-
Euished from a political viewpoint would
Ike 10 reveal tneir. efficiency by trying
conclusions with q worthy rival.
The British army the German critic
5ismiSSes I'D one COntemptUous sentence;
We need not take II into account
Further discussing British naval su-
periority. h gees on to say
The British navy was formerly superior
% ours simply IN the number OF war
ships, but recently the British admiralty
introduced the policy Of superiority in the
size OF battle ships. and this policy proved
a fatal mistake Contrary TO the expec-
tatiOns OF the British admiralty. none OF
the rival naval powers was alarmed at
the increased expenditure. but following
Great Britian-s example. built Dread
nouShts with al possible speed
Produce Disadvantages.
The rapid construction Of Dreadaoughts
has produced serious disadvantages for
England The introduction OF the en-
larged type Of battle ship has rendered
the entire feet which England hitherto
possessed more or less obsolete and en-
abled the rival powers 10 begin the race
Tor naval supremacy on equal terms.
Great BTiJain's cumulative superiority
10 the other powers Is thus less fOrnid-
able than was formerly the case
Regarding the training OF crews Vice
Admiral Won Ahlefeld points out that the
long service system prevalent in Great
Britain offers advantages over the three
years period served by German blue
jackets who are conscripts. while on the
other hand The recruiting system involves
the danger Of a shortage OF hands. which
Is already evident in the case Of stokers
The chronic lack OF recruits who are viii
ling 10 enter the navy as stOkerS. he SAYS.
is a weak point in British naval organiza-
ton
Too Much Sport.
Vice Admiral Won Ahlefeld considers
that the devotion Of British officers and
crews TO sport decreases their efficiency.
especially in regard to gun practice.
which becomes. he says. q sporting event
rather than a matter Of expert handling
OF artillery He even asserts that the gun
merry training Of British crews is seriously
neglected and that the reputation Of Ger
tain British men-Of-War Is founded upon
the achievements Of a mere handful OF
show gunners-
The writer concludes his remarkable
article by referring TO serious blurders
alleged 70 have been perpeTated by the
British admiralty in drawing Up pro
gran1nes Of naval maneUvers.