The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-08
By REAR ADMIRAL FRITZ HoFT-
MAN.


From me DeUtschc Revue.
NoTE--This article was written before
the destruction Of the three English cruisers
by tho German submarine U-e. lite technical
value IL IN no way affected thereby.
30 far the war on land has con-
sisted Of a series Of brilliant sue
~ Cesses Of the Austro-German arm
les, both in the west and in the
east; Serv!a and Belgium have been
overrun by Austria and Germany. the
military power OF Russia and France
has been shaken: English troops have
been defeated repeatedly in France and
England. in consequence is incapable Of
raising her ally, France. who lies
crushed and bleeding.
In view of these truly extraordinary
reSults along tho eastern and western
frontiers many Germans who know little
or nothing Of the nature OF naval war
fare cannot Compre bend the stoiCal pla
Cidity of the German and English fleets
In the North Sea. They realize that the
German navy has modified with the
same ease and order as the army. know
that its men are inspired by the same
spirit and courage, and that although
the English fleet IL almost three times
az large as the German fleet as re-
CARDS number NJ vessels. tonnage and
ordnance. I'm morale and energy the
German marine. after hard and thor
ough work in peace II supremely quail
fed to cope with any adversary what
ever. Knowing all this. Il Is difficult
for the average German 20 understand
why there is such n dearth OF results at
sea. They ask. why In not something
done? What's the reason?'
We will explain briefly TO the man
who knows nothing OF naval warfane
Just what the German navy has accom-
pllshod so far.
AT the time when tho Secretary of
state OF the Imperial navy. Grand Ad-
mral Won Tirpit2, submitted his plan
Dor tho building OF a powerful German
fleet 20 the Relchstag he pointed our
that the purpose OF German naval arm
ancnt must he the creation OF n navy
so strong that no hostile Power would
darn 10 make a foolhardy attack upon
It for fear OF suffering such severe
losses that fts own power at sea would
be jeopardized thereby or even COM
pletely forfeited.
Plainly the simplest way Of compass
ing this end was to engage the enemy
| IN n naval battle. Then, even though
we were foredoomed 20 defeat. we
would at least work such damage 70 the
enemy az virtually TO annthilate It's
power. This naval battle has not We;
been fought. for the simple reason that
the English feet has avoided the North
Sea Recently the London Times dis
GUESSED the pasons for this conduct
We quote from the Times:
Admiral Cir TONn ralnoc-u -
dered England a great service IN keep
ing the German fleet OF me high seas
a largo naval battle might bring ahou,
the state OF affairs outlined in tho
Introduction TO the German naval ordl-
nance OF 1900. which said in substance
that England would undoubtedly be the
victor in naval engagement but that
/ she must be made 10 pay so high a
price for her victory that for years she
would cease 10 be the mistress OF the
seas"
While the English feet's determine
ton to avoid naval battle was patent
the German feet sent scout cruisers
into English waters with instructions
not TO avoid but rather frankly TO en-.
gage the enemy as soon as located
Many a layman will here demand
why the German fleet does not attack
the enemy in its own harhors.
Before attempting to reply to this
question Il is necessary to explain GER
tain techniCalities of naval warfare. as
without knowing OF these It Is impos-
sihle To form mental picture of such
an engagement.
In naval warfare the primary object
IS 10 destroy tho hostile fleet in order &c
gain supremacy OF the seas Four meth
DDS are open to attain this goal
|. A battle on the high seas, naval
action between the two fleets in tho
open sea where there Is no variation in
the topography Of the battlefield, that
Is to say. of the water, and where CON
sequently the strength Of the fleet is the
principal factor 10 he reckonod with
provided. OF course, that tho men Of both
fleets are equal in morale and training.
.. A sk!rursh Of scout cruisers, a
naval battle between parts Of both rcets