The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-09-06
BRITISH FLEETS
PREPAREDNESS
CORRESPONDENT VISITS NAVAL
BASE AND SEES FLEET AT
PRACTICE.
Many New Devices In Action snc
Fleet 10 Stronger Than Before
the War.

LONDON. Sept. 4. Sis D. m.-me-
layed in transmission)-ror the nrst
time. the veil OF secrecy over the
British naval operations has been
lifted. During the past week a cor
respondent visited the grand fleet and
the great naval basis. At one naval
base he saw dry docks, capable OF
docking the largest dreadnaughts.
which had been built since the war
began.
Maps were shown the correspon-
dent. marking points where German
submarines had been sighted and on
which the results OF the attacks were
classified under captured" supposed
sunk and sunk" When bubbles
are observed rising for a long time
al the same spot in smooth water, II
Is taken for granted that SUB
marines career has been ended.
When an officer was asked. now
do you get themg" his answer was,
some times by ramming. some times
by gunfire. some times by explosions
and other ways we will not tell or
All the officers aboard the battle
ships and armored cruisers are en-
vious of those engaged in submarine
hunts, which are regarded as great
sport. The professional opinion was
expressed that the reason the Ger
mans are declared 10 be ready TO fore
go submarine attacks on liners is the
want OF submarines and the person
mel to carry on their campaign.
The admiral commanding at an i'm
portant naval base told the correspon-
dent that England had 1900 trawiers.
mine-sweepers and other auxiliaries.
outside the regular service, on duty IN
the work OF blockading from the Brit
ish channel to Iceland and in keeping
the North Sea clear, and that their
reservist crews had been most Jealous
In their important part in overcoming
the kind OF naval warfare which
Germany wages.
Visits the Fleet.
As the torpedo bost DESTROYER on
which the correspondent was a pas
senger, after a cruise at sea and fol-
lowing the coast turned the headland
into the harbor. where the grand
fleet lay at anchor, he saw a target
being towed in the customary man.
ner for firing practice by some OF the
cruisers. I'VE keep at II all the
time" an officer explained.
Every deck was stripped for action.
steam was up In every ship, and as
the destroyer threated her way tur-
rets were seen turning and guns be-
ing elevated and lowered In the course
OF drills. Seaplanes. which were sail
ing over the fleet. had their home on
a famous Atlantic liner, which has
carried many thousands OF passen-
gers.
In their places in the battle cruiser
Nrh Nrh L. L.
as the cat squadron" were the Lion
and the Tiger, which sank the Ger.
man armored cruised Bluecher in the
North Sea battle.
This seems a sufficient denial of
the German report that the Tiger a.
az the bottom of the sea-" said an
Key Controls Fleet.
Stepping into a small room, where
telegraph keys clicked and a compact
wireless apparatus was hidden be-
mind armor. the correspondent saw one
instrument which brings to Sir John
word OF any submarine having been
sighted. or Of any movement in all
the seas around the British Isles. and
carries the commander-in-chiefs or
ders far and near.
Sir John Jellicoe and all hts officers
spoke in the same strain about the
situation. II the German feet had any
chance Of success. they said, IL was
at the outset OF the war. The hard.
est part OF the war for the navy. the
officers declared. was In the early
days, when the feet was continually
at sea looking for a battle.
Now IL was secure and ready. II
could steam out to action instantly
II the patrols. which continually
sweep the North Sea. reported any
sign Of Germaua