Evening journal., 1914-12-17
THURSDAY DEC. II 1914.
GERMANY's RAID UPON BRITAIN.

II Y a daring naval raid upon the northeast coast Of
- England. and the sholling Of Hartlepool, Scar
borough and Whitby the Germans have shocked Great
Britain from centre to circumference and subjected
the British Admiralty to a wave of public criticism
that may have far-reaching results upon the future
naval policy Of that nation in the present
Tho remarkable nature OF the German exploit lies
not in the fact that the cruisers OF the Kaiser lombard
ed the three towns, because with the exception Of
Hartlepool. they without defenses and
in tho fact that they succeeded in getting within strik
Jug distance Of the British coast and in getting away
when they had performed their destructive work
After the began the public given to under
stand that the German feet bottled up and that
the coasts Of Great Britain were defended by an in
vncibe ring of floating steel the
OF which were eager to meet engage and sink the
onemy's ships The result of the battle off Heligoland
tended to give substance TO that understanding. Tho
British public felt that the coasts of Great Britain
amply protected against attack from any quar-
ter And now, in the face OF all that, several fast
German cruisers succeeding in seaming between
500 and 400 miles the North body of water
supposed TO be dominated absolutely by the British
navy and pouring of deathdealing shells among
The Britshers when they engaged in that truly
important British function Of eating breakfast The
German warshps not only succeeded in doing those
things. but they also succeeded in escaping, seem
ingly without the loss of a man. and getting back to
the protection of their base or near the German
coast
That the British public is shocked by the daring
and skill of the German naval officers is not surpris
ng Nor is il unnatural that the British Admiralty is
being scored by British opinion BE the criticism de-
served or undeserved, there is question that it
exists. and will make itself felt
That no practical benefit to the Germans resulted
from tho raid is admitted. They killed few sol
dicrs and killed and wounded many non-combatants,
but not in position to follow up their success
hy even the semblance Of an invasion With them it
was truly a case OF what American would call "a
hot touch and a quick getaway The really import
ant question is what effect the raid will have upon
British policy has revealed important point Of
weakness An the British defenses AS the British
a resourcelul and purposefu people, who seldom fail
To profit by their blunders and 10 pay back with
interest when it 10 dealing with enemy, the
presumption that radical steps will be taken by them
to prevent the recurrence Of such German incur
sion.
Announcement is made in London that the Ger
man raid viii not lead the Admiralty to change its
present offensive and defensive plans That doubtless
rs for German consumption. In the aroused state
of British opinion because tradition that has eN-
listed for centuries has shattered by the Germans
It perhaps will be exceedingly hazardous for the
Kaiser TO send another rading squadron against the
coast of Britain, as effect OF the raid just made
win be TO strengthen the determination of the British
TO carry the war to a successful conclusion, regard
less Of the sacrifice Of men and money and to guard
rs coasts more carefully
It must be admitted however that although the ra'
which was SO successful is devoid of special immediate
heneht to Germany il one of the most daring oN
poits of tho present conflict shows that the Brit
ish navy enjoys no European monopoly Of bravor'
and resourcefulness when it to the handling O
warships.