Evening journal., 1915-08-04
britain MAINTAINS
SUPREMACY ON SEA
Reventlow'S Article ConSid-
cred Apology for What
Germans Have not Done
MEANING IS NOT
QUITE CLEAR

! WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-"Count
Won Reventlow's review of the accom-
plishments of the German navy our
ing the first year of the war is main
ly an apology for what it has not done
and Mr. Balfours reply states the sit
uation as well as any man could.
Most naval officers viewing the situ-
alton impartially. would probably
concede that the British navy has ac-
complished all that Mr.. Balfour
claims for it,"
This statement was made by high
naval authority here when asked for
an expression regarding the respec-
tive summaries of naval accomplish
ments made by Count Won Reyentlow
and Mr.. Balfour Continuing, he
said:
Mr.. Balfour speaks of seven things
which a fleet may do Many naval Of
fcers probably would not state the
proposition in that way, and yet
agree with him. The most important
thing Of all is to render impotcnt or
powerless the feet of the enemy That
the British navy has bottled up the
German navy and rendered it prac-
tioally impotent can hardly be ques
ton. All il can do at present is to
make submarine attacks by stealth
on unarmed merchant ships and fish
ing boats.
Meaning Not Clear.
The meaning of Count Revontlow
is not clear when he says 1t is plain
ly the standpoint of the British Ad-
miralty to avoid serious encounters
with the German fleet except under
] specially favorable conditions. Il
fears that il would otherwise have
too few vessels left and be weaker
/ than the United States after the war.
] Count Reventlow is mistaken when
he attempts to state the policy OF the
British Admiralty. Men who have
| followed closely the course Of the
war are very confident that the
standpoint of the British Admiralty
is to attack the German fleet every
chance il gets Every time the Ger
mans have sent a fleet outside Of its
protected naval bases and mine fields
and attempted TO do anything the
movement has been reported by Brit.
ish scout ships and a British fee
has been on the scene on short notice
prepared for action
1T is unquestionably true. as stated
by Count Reventlow. that it is no
correct to say that great armores
= ships do not come out and fight fol
r fear of submarines. for there ar,
/ many other reasons to he considered
There is no particular reason nov
why either the British or the Ger
2 man great armored ships should com
out and fight If conditions require
IL and we're imperative however, tn
W submarines could not stop them.
D. when Farragut was entering Nc
lyl bile Bay he did not withdraw from IN
at attack for fear of mines He sal
s. Damn the minesl Go ahead Ths
g same spirit prevails today in navs
l- circles and when there is work tha
v must be done commanding officer
re are ever ready to take their chance
Is against submarines. mines or wha
k not and go ahead and do II.
4 Submarine is Baked.
ID The feat of the German submarin
ST in cruising from the North Sea to IN
s. Dardanelles was a remarkable accom-
)r plishment in steaming. II is true. ais,
le that after their arrival they SAM
n some enemy warships-two Britis
l. and one French. The enemy At III
Pr Dardanelles was surprised They wer
he not expecting submarine attack
s. is equally true. however. that sine
" the sinking of these ships at the Dan
Of danelles by the German submarines
nothing more has been heard froI
them. They may have been destroye
and may have steamed elsewhere A
any rate, the commanders of the al
lied fleet are now prepared for theI
~ and have been successful in defend
| ing their fighting shiIs against tn
submarines,
"Of course. the German navy ha
. protected its own coasts from attac
ly