The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-27
OF the Disaster which Oyer.
took the AudaciOus.
DESTRUCTION Of THE BUlW Wlnk
Was Too Near Home to Admit
Of Concealment.
A Government Explosions seelas
Likely at Any Time.
(By ]. w. r. Mason.> !

(By ]. w. +. Masonry
New York. Nov, N.-The loss Of the
Bulwark does not disturb, to any an
preciable extent. the balance Of naval
power. but it must have an encourag-
ing effect on the Germans. II British
.battleships can spontaneously destroy
themselves. there will be q new argu-
ment for German irreconcilables who
favor prolonging the war over an indef-
mite time on the chance that British
sea preponderance ultimately win b
reduced to the German level by . COM
bination Of luck. accident and submar.
Inc attacks.
I. AS TAR as u known. the BulWark II
the second British battleship destroyed.
but there may be more The fact that
the loss Of the Audacious 10 still with
held from the British public indicates
it is the policy of the government to
conceal every capital ship disaster wher-
ever possible. The only reason the loa
OF the Bulxark was admitted, IL with
out doubt. because the character Of
the explosion made concealment Inn
possible.
The destruction Of the Bulwark has
occurred simultaneously with the ar
rival in England OF American newspa.-
pers giving the first information Of the
Audacious catastrophe. The news -
now spreading by word of mouth
throughout England, suhstantiated BY
American newspaper clippings which
are the only source Of information
about this naval blow. England pos
sesses. Thousands Of Englishmen viii
thus have heard OF the double disaster
to the Audacious and the Bulwark SIM
ultaneously.
The result will not be discourage-
ment. for the Englishman IL q very
etubborn person in dangerous cr1noe.
But 1t may serve to bring to tha auf-
Sece severe criticism~ ~ the eovern-
ment. British censorship has been
used to check adverse comment ON
the ministry by Withholding such news
- the AudAci0ue e~oata6trophe. A sense
or patriotism has also restrained auy
violent outbreaks against the cabinet.
But there are smoldering flames Of
discomfort throughout the United
Kingdom at the way the war has b0on
handled by the responsible minlsfo1n.
At any time this may burst into flamo,
causing a government explosion.
Englishmen are feeling bitterly the
lack Of individual exploits by their
navy and the gain by the Germans Of
almost all the sea prestige of the war.
They are looking for q victim. The
resignation Of Prince Louis Of Batten-
burg served as q public sop, and since
1t followed the loss Of the Audacioua
by two days. was probably q private
government sop as well. But the
sacrifice Of the Austrian born. first
sea lord. has not served its purpose,
Both the Chilean naval battle and the
loss OF the Bulwark have occurred
since then.
A new victim may soon have to be
found. A second individual may serve
the purpose temporarily. but IL British
naval losses continue at the present
rate without any compensatinr gain in
prestige, the AsQuith ministry undoubt-
edly will be in danger. Englishme0
have great faith In their ability to
''muddle through" q crisis. But they
can become relentless enemies of their
own leaders irrespective Of party whom
once they get the impression that the
politicians are not playing fair with t.
democracy.