New-York tribune., 1915-02-16

London, Feb. 15.--In a statement to
the House of Commons to-day Winston
Spencer Churchill, First Lord Of the
Admiralty. declared that further action
with the full force of naval pres
sure" would be taken by the Allies 10
prevent the importation of foodstufs
in neutral ships to Germany.
Mr.. Churchill gave an interesting re-
view of the naval situation in intro
ducing the navy estimates. He said
that efficiency was the keynote OF the
Admiralty's programme, and that al
the outbreak of the war the supplies
of ammunition, men and oil were com
plete. Every ship in the navy which
was fit for service, as well as new
ships which were being built for for
eign governments and armed mer-
chantmen. had been fully manned.
an fact, the German army was no
more fit Cor an attempted war on a
gigantic scale than was the British
fleet for national defence" he said.
"After six months of war, with new
dangers and difficulties coming into
view, we have every right to be con-
tent with the results of our labors in
making provision for the navy
After referring to the naval battles
off the Falkland Islands and in the
North Sea, Mr.. Churchill said: "Only
two small cruisers and two armed mer-
chantmen remain of all the German
preparations to attack our trade
routes, and these are in hiding"
British Loses Sixty-three Ships.
During the six months Of the war,
Mr.. Churchill stated, Great BritaIn's
total losses at sea, including all ships
except trawlers, amounted TO only six
ty-three. Nevertheless, it was neces-
sary to be on the lookout for another
German attempt TO harass British trade
routes, although the ocean is black
prospect TO a German cruiser" he said.
I'VE should be able to meet any new
attempt with resources incomparably
superior TO what we had At the be-
ginning of the war"
Referring to Vice-Admiral Jellicoe's
command of the sea with his feet as
silent, unsleeping and as yet unchal-
lenged," Mr.. Churchill said that the
Admiralty had moved men at home and
abroad, including Belgian and French
troops and the wounded, TO the num-
Der Of 100000, without an accident or
the loss Of life. He asserted that the
IluloCl dNblOll lIt ANOl III ptat
although incomplete, was encouraging
and of great Importance because Of the
light which it had thrown upon ques-
tions concerning armament, design and
relative gunnery. Referring TO the
steaming qualities shown by the Brit
ish cruisers, Mr.. Churchill said that
"the navy is sound as bell, all
through" The engagement showed
there was no reason to assume that,
ship for ship, man for man, gun for
gun, Britain would not give Q very
good account of herself.
"The Germans, in the cruiser action,
thought only of fight, while we thought
only of battle" he continued. "They
were wise in their thought. II they
had thought otherwise they would have
been destroyed. No falsehood about the
aC.ion could obscure that cruel fact
When, If ever, the grand fleets draw out
for battle, we shall hope to have a feet
superior in both quality and numbers.
Would Isolate Germany.
"The task lying before US is both
anxious and grave. We are now TO be
the object OF warfare never before
practised by a civilized power. So far
we have not attempted TO stop the i'm
portation OF food. We have not pre-
vented neutral ships from trading di-
rectly with German ports. We have