Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-17
GERMAN STRATEGY
CAUGHT BRITISH
WAR OFFICE ASLEEP
The FlOuting Of EngIanGs S Big
Navy Is a Terrible Blow to
English Pride
JUST PLAYED TAG
With WhOLE NAVY
All England Prayed for a
Chance Germans Gave
Them, and Then Missed
By j. W. T. Mason
(Former London correspondent for Il
TTuifnd praga \

(Former London correspondent for the
United Press.)
New York, Dec. 17.-Once more the
naval laurel for personal efficiency
passes from the British to the Ger
mans,
The escape of the kaiser's cruisers
which raided the English east coast
Wednesday is the severest blow AL.
bion's sea prestige has yet suffered
The raid Is effect on the war itself
is negligible, but as demonstration of
individual prowess it has obliterated
for the Germans the bitterness of their
recent defeat off the Falkland Island.
1t seems inconceivable that the Bri.
tish admiralty failed to consider the
possibility Of a German dash straight
across the North sea from the kaiser Is
naval bases on the continental coast
to England. If any plan existed for
frustrating such an attempt, however,
the British were caught mapping.
The humiliation Is all the greater
for them from the fact that at least
three German battle cruisers took part
in the raid. '-
These vessels form an important
part of Germany's first line sea
strength. Had they been destroyed,
the loss to the kaiser 8 navy would
have been Of the most serious import.
ance.
The Chance They Wanted.
Ever since the war began, all Eng.
land has been praying fervently that
all or part Of the German first line Of
strength might venture into the open
sea, away from the shelter of the Teu.
tonic land Notifications.
Yet when this actually happened, the
British navy was found unprepared.
How the Germans escaped doubtless
will constitute Il matter for rigid naval
investigation.
Several possible explanations suggest
themselves, The mist which overhung
the North sea has been mentioned as
having been Of advantage to the raid.
ers in getting away. Perhaps il con.
tributed to their success to greater
extent than any other single cause. II
may be, too, that the German warships
were able to "iam" the wireless, pre-.
venting notification Of their presence
from reaching the British fleet at sea.
The squOdron's strength undoubtedly
had an important bearing on the i'm.
munity II enjoyed, since nothing less
than British first line ships could have
hoped to engage the raiders without q
strong probability Of disastrous con
| gnuuonppg IA thpmpnlvng
Trick Easily Turned.
Nevertheless, it is impossible Ia
avoid the conclusion that British naval
strategy was defective in failing Ia
take into account the possibility Of an
attack under such conditions as prevail
ed Wednesday.
The ease with which the German
squadron broke through the Gordon Of
British warships along the kaiser'f
coast suggests also that Teutonic
raiding force might get into the north
Atlantic and dcmornli2e their shipping
there As Il eliminating effort to do
all the damage possible TO Great Bri
tain such an exploit might be under
taken
II must be admitted, however, that
II is not very likely, The dash to the
Yorkshire coast was made under con
ditions which permitted quick return
to shelter This would not be possible
from the Atlantic
IN effect such a proceeding would
De to commit the strategic blundcr OF
dividing the German naval strength.
Furthermore, q German fleet un
doubtedly would experience much diff
Guilty in getting out Of the North seq
into the Atlantic on account Of th,
mine fields which block the former
northern and southern exits,