The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-08-10

ial an asset for European Power to
sorego. Despite the relative weakness of
The German fleet II was believed that II
would meet the British foe at open sea- 1,
was found that the Germans were given
credit for assuming the aggressive in this
engagement, although their strength as
measured by the dreadnaught unit was but
one keel to two Of the British fleet.
The natural assumption Of the layman
that the German fleet would remain bot
tied up at KEEL and Wilhelmshaven under
protection Of the shore batteries was not
credited by naval experts. Such state of
attairs would be no more satisfactory to
Great Britain than II would be to Germany.
Each country has an enormous merchant
marine for which 1t must strive to main
tain freedom of the seas. Even II the Ger
man fleet could be kept on the defensive
and confined to It's home ports by the
superior British fleet this would give only
temporary assurance to Great Britain that
her merchant marine would not be mo-
Tested. That would be unsatisfactory. At
any moment the German fleet might at
tempt to break the British control.
Moreover. the Germans themselves have
q merchant marine to consider. Last of
all. found general conviction in favor OF
the Germans that 1t lust amt their
nature" to stay cooped up in port while
Great Britain rules the seas.
II these naval experts were correct in
their prophecies and the German fleet
should meet the combined British fleet in
the North Sea the world would witness for
the first time the value OF that desperate
struggle for preparedness which these two
greatest of the Powers had maintained
for the last decade
Germany to Begin Attack.
It was believed that the British fleet,
which disappeared SO mysterIously after
steaming from Portsmouth a few days
before under sealed orders, was off Dog
ser Bank in strategic position to strike
al the German foe or to return quickly to
the protection Of home ports. At the out.
set the British fleet comprised th!rty-two
battle ships OF the dreadnought type. Ger.
many had only sixteen. Yet 1t was expect.
ed that the smaller fleet would begin the
attack.
The British fleet would probably ap-
proach Wilhelmshaven. but 1t would be diff
ficult for II to make torpedo attack
against the German dreadnoughts within
the harbor. The Germans, therefore, were
expected to begin actual operations with a
night torpedo attack against the British
fleet. This would be followed by day tor.
pedo attack. and then the long distance
duel of the dreadnoughts would begin.
~ ttlis engagement Tue WOrIO would have
the sight of the two greatest fighting units
which the resources Of great Powers and
the genius Of man can create testing their
strength In battle that must bring VIC
tory for one and defeat for the other.
Only the strategy would be modelled upon
experience. All else would be the test OF
theories. The value OF the dreadnought
unit In fleet. the relative value of tor
pedo attack upon these mammoth fight
ing machines, the value of armor, OF
armor piercing and explosive shells, would
all be tested for the first time in such an
engagement.
British Fleet Excels.
In all classes Of vessels the British flee,
excels. So many factors enter into the
strength Of war ships Of all types that II
10 apt to be misleading to classify the
vessels Of opposing fleets as battle ships
/. cruisers. torpedo boats and destroyers
However. under any classification, Great
Britain has the overwhelming advantage
In numbers
Germany is considered to have an ex-