Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-01
GERMANF'S SEA
POLICY Is SUCCESS
Germany's Naval Expert Reviews
Achievements Of Kaiser's Sub.
marines First Year Of War.
FABIAN TACTICS NECESSARY

BERLIN, July bls-AltnOugh the
main German and British fleets have
not been matched in battle, the end
ing of the first year Of the war finds
that Germany has distinguished her
self at sea, says Captain /. Persius in
a naval review prepared for the
Associated Press. Captain Persius,
formerly an officer Of the German
navy, is a recognised authority on
German naval affairs and is naval
expert Of the Berlinger Tsgeblatt.
He states that Germany's policy has
been TO attempt to weaken her chief
opponent at sea by using submarines
and mines, TO a point where there
will be some prospect of success Of
an attack on the main British fleet.
His review follows:
"The German feet may boast that the
offensive spirit It has displayed has con-
stituted the most prominent and decls-
I've feature of all the naval war theaters,
War was declared against Russia on
August 1, and on August 2 the cruiser
Augsburg bombarded the Russian war
port of Ldbau- The declaration OF war
against France was issued August g.
and on the following day the cruisers
Goeben and Breslau shelled the troop
embarkation points of Phillipeville and
Bona, on the North African coast. Fin
ally England declared war on August
and on the Sth the minelayer Koenigin
Luise planted mines at the mouth of
the Thames, one of which destroyed the
cruiser Amphion
Fight Superior Forces.
1--WE thus see that from the very be-
ginning German warships displayed
spirit of daring offensive. Not only in
European waters, but in distant seas we
heard of victorious combats wherein our
cruisers were engaged. In majority
of cases the foreign cruisers. like the
home units, fought against much super
Tor forces.
I'm Germany the gigantic task OF our
sea forces is in no wise underestimated.
We know that the British fleet alone.
30 far as material strength is concerned,
is considerably more than twice our
superior, but we are certain that the
same heroic spirit OF determination to
win exists in the fleet as in the army,
and that we can depend upon the eff
cheney of our material which, even
though inferior in quantity, can brave
comparison with that of any other power
for excellence in construction of artillery
and machinery"
1--WE do not forget that the British
fleet first in the world and OF glorious
history, is an opponent worthy or all
respect. Nevertheless. at the close of
the first year of the war, 1t may be said
without exaggeration that its achieve
Inents do not measure up to our eXpecta-
tons 1t has lacked. it seems, the iron
determination and ability to conquer.
Strategy of Caution.
1.-The British admiralty has held strictly
to the strategy of caution Tho Ger
man submarine danger is. we realize,
partly responsible, but 1t cannot be oues-
toned that as a consequence OF I'M
denIably evident lack of initiative. the
prestige of the British sea power no
longer stands SO mistaken throughout
the world as formerly. British forces
have been victorious only in engagements
where they were overwhelmingly SUI
perior. as at the Falkland islands; and
even this is not claimed by the British
press to be an unconditional success, be-
cause the battle was too costly in time
and sacrifice.
our naval authorities followed gem
orally the principle of keeping battleshipa
In harbor while attempting to weaken
the enemy through minor warfare. par
ticularly with submarines and mines, to
q point where an attack on the main
fleet will offer some prospect OF sue
cess How correct this strategy was Is
proved by the last twelve months. Thanks
10 the effectiveness of our submarines,
which excited the justified admiration OF
the whole world, It has been possible
sorely to wound the British fleet
Merchant ships Also Destroyed.
'In addition, our submarine arm has
busted itself since the beginning OF the
year In an entirely unexpected way, as
a destroyer OF commerce. Views may
differ as to the final outcome in this
field. but il is undeniable that a nation
like Germany, whose commerce has beer
driven from the seas, but which can sub
sist without imports, has an eXtraor'
binary advantage over a country depend
ent almost entirely, like Britain, upor
importations of food and raw material;
across the water. The submarine danger
unquestionably weighs like a nightmare
upon the inhabitants OF the sea-washec
land The future results of the wide
extension, as we nope VI tho iIull u
activity of our submarines cannot b.
predicted, but the expectation is gen
orally cherished In Germany that the
submarine campaign will help to ac
celerate the demand for peace in Eng
land.
Every type Of warshlp has fallen. vic
tim to German submarines-the battle
ships Formidable, Triumph and Majestic
the armored cruisers Hogue, Cressy ant
Aboukir. the Russian cruiser Pallaba, tn
cruisers Hawke and Pathfinder and tn
British destroyer Recruit, for example,
and neither the express steamer nor th'
slow fishing boat is safe from our deadly
torpedoes.
Aerial Arm Wins Laurels.
''In addition, the aerial arm OF the
service has won many laurels. zeppe
Inns crossed the North Sea safely, ever
10 London and back, and German aero
planes participated in the destruction Of
the enemies war and merchant ships
The question whether airships and aero
planes could be used extensively at ses
must. in the light OF the achievement
of our aircraft, be answered affiTna'