The Washington times., 1914-09-23
ON LAND AND SEA.

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invincible German army has failed
to prove itself; aud likewise the
unconquerable British navy has
made decidedly the poorer showing
thus far.
From tie beginning the German
naval policy fas been that Of avoid
ing a decisive engagement, and snip
ing off now and then British vessel,
If the hope that at length the losses
might be sufficient to bring the two
sea forces nearly enough together
to make a pitchei battle safe. This
explains the withdrawal of the Ger
man fleet. the second most powerful
in the world, under tn, guns of great
I Notifications. The British must
keep their battle fleet at hand; and
this affords the precise opportunity
the Germans want, for operating
with destroyers, torpedoes. sub
marines, and the like, for surprise
dashes, cutting-out movements, and
perhaps attacks from the skies with
hcmbs thrown by aircraft.
To this date, the German tactics
have brought results that must be
altogether gratifying to the Ger
mans, and that certainly are most
naddcning 10 British sensibilities.
Nobody knows much about the
power of the German submarine
fiotilla, save that i. is in point CT
construction decidedly different
from the types used in other first
class naval countries. There is
rapid accumulation Of testimony,
too, that it is highly efficient.
The loss Of the three 12.000-tou
British cruisers that we're sunk by
the submarines yesterday cannot be
set down to accident. The operation
was carefully planned; the Eritish
were duped into exposing their ves-
sells in just the way that served the
German purpose, and the Germans
succeeded in completely destroying
three big and powerful vessels. Their
crows were for tie greater part
evidently lost with the ships. The
whole performance brings the
gluesome suggestion that perhaps,
in the realm of naval warfare, the
Germans have something up their
sleeves as startling and as effective
al their huge siege guns have proved
to be in campaigning on tho land.
The prcponderance Of naval sue
cesses in favor Of the Germans is
the more striking, because in fact
TIE Germans have to oppose not only
the overwhelming British feet. but
also that Of France, which is only
inferior to the German force. From
tie beginning, alrnost nothing has
been heard about the French fleet.
1t is supposed to have been assigned,
rs its chief task, the patrplling of
the Mediterranean. Yet the Breslau
and the GocDen escaped from a
British squadron, and their escape
tas been made the sub ;ect Of Brit
ish naval inquiry. II has been felt
in England that somebody jlunde-ed
most egregious V in letting thom get
;:way. Had tney been captured n
destroyed. instead Of being permitted
10 get into Turkish waters, the pos
sibility of Turkey joining the Ger
manic confederation would have
been practically endcI. AS it is, the
diplomatic consequences Of this Ger
man success have strikingly illus
trated the importance Of sea power.
If Turkey becomes the open ally of
Germany. it may be charged up to
the failure of the British Mediter-
ranean force in the chase Of the two
German vessels.
There can be no doubt that
great outcry will now be raised in
Britain over the failures of the
navy. Opinion has been critically
disposed for a long time. The dis
aster of Yesterday will compel some
change Of tactics.
What may be expected is that the
British feet in front of Helgoland
will be ordered TO make battle, even
if it be necessary 70 go in ard hunt
for the Germans under the guns of
forts and through the fields of mines
and submarines. There is good
American precedent for this course.
Damn the torpedoeG," was the SEN
timent of Farragut at Mobile Bay;
and he drove his fleet in, and won.
Dewey at Manila pu. out his lights
and sailed right through the narrow
entrance, mines and all; and he lost
nothing. If he had laid to outside
End waited for the enemy to make
the next move, he might have been
as unfortunate as the British have
been in the North Sea.
It will be a sad thing for the
British navy and the British cause
if an overweight public sentiment
compels any rash undertaking.