Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-26
AS SEEN IN ENGLAND.
(By Ed. L. Keen.)

victory III thlS Near'olu war was won
before the war started.
Forty or 80 years from now-the
Germans willing-when the British de
sire to honor the heroes of the Great
war, they doubtless will erect imposing
statues of SIR John French, Sir Doug
las Hang, Sir Ian Hamilton, Sir Johu
Jelhcoe, Sir Frederick Sturdee and Ad.
miral John de Robeek They may even
include Lord Kitchener, although if
popular vote were taken at the present
time it is hardly likely the verdict in
Kitchener 5 favor would be unanimous.
But If the English nation shulld fail
TO recognize in this distribution of
awards certain blond, blueeye young
statesman of dandified mien and lisp.
ing voice, who by the fortunes of poll.
ties happened to be the first lord of
the admiralty in the summer of 1914,
it will demonstrate that other forms of
government besides republics are un.
grateful
Brittania rules the waves today
because of Winston Churchill, To his
foresight, imagination and nerve is due
the fact that when the war lord threw
down his gauntlet the British fleet was
ready. England's command of the seas
was assured before Kaiser Wilhelm
began scattering war declarations
through the chancelleries of Europe
Navy Was Ready Early.
Perhaps Churchill knew. Anyhow,
most of his colleagues in the cabinet
didn I believe him. He acted in spite
of them. His resignation lay on the
table, to be taken up if events should
prove that he was wrong.
Early in July the grand fleet had as.
sembled off the south coast of England
for its annual play at war. The maneu.
vers followed their usual course and
under all the rules, the fleet should
have been scattered a week before July
2S, the day Austria declared war
against Serbia. The next day-three
days before Germany declared war
against Russia, five days before she
declared war against France and nearly
week before England officially enter.
ed the fray--Churchill converted the
prolonged maneuyers into the real
thing. On the night of July 20 there
was flashed through newspaper offices
of London the brief announcement:
1.-The British fleet has left Portland
under sealed orders. Where il went,
the writer didn I know then, he doasn I
know now-and if he did, he wouldn I
dare tell. II ism { necessary TO know
/ The results are sufficient. The main
! fleet kept together with superior force
ready to meet the Germans should they
come out without previously notifying
Great Britain of their intention, with
scouts thrown ont toward the German
coast to watch for them, and patrols tC
guard the coast of England
England's Work on Sea.
There may be some doubt about Eng
land s assistance to the allies upon tn,
land. There can be no question of hei
services upon the water. Her losse,
have been heavy both in ships and men
but not in commensurate with the al
yantages gained for her allies az wei
as herself by remaining "mistress O
the seas - Beside bottling up the Ger
man grand fleet-the one outstapdin,
achievement of the entire war-Enp
land speedily swept the German mer
camille marine from the oceans. destroy
ed Won Spec s rowing squadron. IN
out of business the German commerce
raiders, and provided safe convoy. no
only to her own troops and their sun
plies across the channel, but TO mil
hons of dollars wrth Of arms and am
munition for both her allies and her
self across the Atlantic. Germany .
war Of attritiou, conducted bv mean
OF submarine, can never overcome tbes
results And it is not detracting from
the praise due Admiral Smrdee and nj
men for their wonderful week. in hunt
ing down and defeating Won Spec of
the Falkland Islands TO say that il wa
Churchill who made this feat possible
There has been a good deal df criti
cism Of the British navy because earl,
IN the war il failed Ia catch the Ger
man east coast raiders, and in more re
cent months adequately 10 protect per
chant shipping against submarine at
tncks. But it should he borne in min,
that the one big job Of the admiralty !
TO see that the grend fleet is kent in
tact and ready 10 meet the Germa
fleet when Il comes out In body
II ever does.
Scandal in Admiralty.
The year did not pass without II
admiralty sraudal--an ugly blot ON a
|herwisc crcditable page. In piau
Adminl Lord Fisher deserted his pas
az first sea lord. Rather than disrpp
the ndvy-as be fcarcd-C ChurcbiI
agreed to step out The prime minis,e
picked Balfour as his successor. bu
Fisher didn't like Balfour any NOR
than he did Churchill and refused I
n serve under him. What Asauith ha
been willing 10 overlook az tempert
mcnt, he couldn't forgive when II b,
came insuboriination. So Fisher wo
replaced by Admiral Sir Henry Jacl
son.
Churchill the man who defeated IN
German fleet before it could In sr
chor, is still in the cabinct. The pa,io
couldn 2 afford 10 lose man of hi
ginger Iii, job is chancellor Of m
/ Duchy Of Lancaster" " which has n, a
with the collection Of rents on som,
thing Of that sort--bnt ouly for the m,
ment
a=#
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