Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-26

comprehensive reUieU Of the fret ged'
Of the Wdr. TkeD ,Oiu be continued
eUery day during the tceek.
LONDON, July ss.-Ensland's greatest
victory in this year-old war was won be-
fore the war started.
Forty or 30 years from now-the Ger
mans wllling-when the British desire TO
honor the heroes OF the Great War, they
| doubtless will erect imposing statues of
| Sir John French, Sir Douglas Haig, Sir
| ian Hamilton, Sir John Jelllcoe Sir Fred
| erick Sturdee and Admiral John de Ro-
| beck. They may even include Lord Kitch-
ener, although II a popular vote were
taken at the present time, II lie hardly
likely the verdict In Kitchener's favor
would be unanimous.
But II the English nation should fail
to recognize In this distribution of
awards certain blond. blue-eyed young
statesman OF dandlfed mien and llsping
voice, who by the fortunes OF politics
happened to be the first Lord of the Ad-
miralty in the summer of 1914, 1t VIII de-
monstrate that other forms OF govern
ment besides republics are ungrateful,
Britannia rules the waves" today be-
cause of Winston Churchill To his fore
sight, Imagination and nerve Is due the
fact that when the war lord threw down
his gauntlet, the British feet was ready
England's command of the seas was as
sured before Kaiser Wilhelm began scat
terlng war declarations through the chan
celleries OF Europe.
Perhaps Churchill knew. Anyhow, most
of his colleagues In the Cabinet didn't be-
lieve him, He acted in spite of them. His
resignation lay on the table, to be taken
up IL events should prove that he was
wrong.
Early in July the Grand Fleet had
assembled off the south coast of England
for its annual play at war. The nlaneu-
vers followed their usual course and un-
der all the rules the feet should have
been scattered a week before July 2S. the
day Austria declared war against Servia.
The next day--three days before Germany
declared war against Russia, Ave days
before she declared war against France
and nearly a week before England Off
cially entered the fray-Churchill con-
verted the prolonged maneuvers into the
real thing. On the night of July 20 there
was flashed through newspaper Offices of
London the brief announcement, THE
British fleet has left Portland under
sealed orders" Where 1t went the writer
didn't know then, he doesn't know now
and If he did, he wouldn't dare tell. II
isn't 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 out toward
the German coast to watch for them and
patrols TO guard the coast of England.
There may be some doubt about Eng
lands assistance to the Allies upon the
land. There can be no question Of her
services upon the water. Her losses have
been heavy both in ships and men, but
not incommensurate with the advan-
tages gained for her Allies as well as
herself by remaining mistress of the
seas" Beside bottling UP the German
grand fieet-the one outstanding achieve
nent OF the entire war-England speedily
swept the German mercantile marine
from the oceans, destroyed Won Specs
rowing squadron, put out of business the
German commerce raiders and provided
safe convoy not only to her own troops
and their supplies across the channel,
but to millions of dollars worth of arms
and ammunition for both her allies and
herself across the Atlantic Germany'e
war Of attrltion, conducted by means OF
submarines, can never overcome these
results. And it is not detracting from
the praise due Admiral Sturdee and his
men for their wonderful work in hunting
down and defeating Won Spec, off the
Falkland Islands to say that II was
Churchill who made this feat possible.
There has been a good deal of criticism
of the British navy because early In the
war It failed to catch the German East
Coast raiders, and In more recent months
adequately to protect merchant shipping
against submarine attacks. But II should
be borne In mind that the one big job of
the Admiralty is to see that the grand
feet Is kept intact and ready to meet
the German fleet when IT comes out In a
body-if 1t ever does.
The year did not pass without its Ad-
miralty scandalvan ugly blot on an 9TH
erwise creditAble page. In a plque Ad-
miral Lord Fisher deserted his post as
First Sea Lord. Rather than disrupt the
nAvy-as ne feared--Churchln agreed to
step out. The Prime Minister picked Ball
four as his successor, but Fisher didn't
like Balfour any more than he did Church.
III and refused to serve under him, What
Asquith had been willing to overlook as
temperament he couldn't forgive when II
became insubordination. So Fisher was
replaced by Admiral Sir Henry jackson.
Churchill, the man who defeated the
German fleet before It could lift anchor,
ls still IN the Cabinet. The nation couldn't
AFFORD TO lose a man OF his ginger. His
Job Is chancellor OF the Duohy OF Lam
caster" which has TO do with the col
lection OF rents or something Of that sort
but only for the moment.