The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-08-03
SOON VICTORY WILL COME
Realizes British Fleet Is Twice
as Great But Relies On |nvin-
chile Determination To Win
Which Exists in The Fleet
The Same as in The Army,
Some Victories Gained
(By the Associated Press).

tBy the Associated PreSS). |
Berlin, July 31.-Although the main
German n British fleets have not
been matched in battle, the ending Of
the first year Of the war finds that
Germany has distinguished herself at
sea. says Captain L. Persius in a naval
review prepared for The Associated
Press. Captain Persius, formerly an |
officer Of the Germany navy, is a rec
ognized authority on German naval
affairs and is naval expert of the |
Berliner Tageblatt. 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 pros
pect of success of an attack on the
main British fleet. His review follows:
The German fleet may boast thai
the offensive spirit it has displayed
has constituted the most prominent
and decisive feature Of all the naval
wal theatres. War was declared
against Russia on August /, and on
August 2 the cruiser Augsburg bonn
barded the Russian var port of Libau.
The declaration of war against France
was issued August 3 and on the fol-
lowing day the cruisers Goeben and
Breslau shelled h troop embarka-
ton points of ~Philipeville and Bona,
on the North African coast. Finally
England declared war on August 4.
and on the Sth the minelayer Koenigin
I.uise planted mines at the mouth Of
the Thames, n Of which destroyed
the cruiser Amphion.
w thus see that from the very
beginning German warships displayed
a spirit of daring offensive. Not only
in European waters but in distant seas
we heard OF victorious combats where
In our cruisers were engaged. In a
majority Of cases the foreign cruisers.
like the home units, fought against
much superior forces.
Task Not Underestimated.
In Germany the gigantic a OF
our sea forces Is in no wise under
estimated. We know that the British
fleet alone. SO far as material strength
Is concerned. is Considerably more
than twice our superior, but we ar
certain that tho same heroic spiri
Of determination to win exists in thu
fleets as in the army, and that we cal
depend upo the efficiency OF our ma
terial which, even though inferior il
quantity, can brave comparison Will
that of any other power for excellenc'
In construction OF artillery am
machinery.
1--WE do not forget tia the British
fleet. first In the world and Of gioriou
history, is an opponent worthy of al
respect. Nevertheless, at the close Q
the first year of the war, it may b
said without exaggerauon that it
achievements do not measure up t
our expectations. 1t has lacked.
seems. the iron determination an
ability to conquer.
The British Admiralty has hel
strictly to the strategy of caution
The German submarine danger is, "
realize, party responsible, but it cal
not be questioned that, as q cons
quence Of ~undeniably evident lack
Initiative, the prestige of the BIRTHS
sea power no longer stands 50 unshal
en- throughout the world as formerl
British forces have been victorio1
only Ia ENGAGEMENTS where they we
Overwhelmingly Superior, as at II
Falkland Islands; and sven this
not claimed by the British press
be an unconditional success, becau
h battle was too costly in time a.
sacrifice.
Keep Battlcships In Harbor.
Our naval authorities follow
generally the principle Of kept
battleships in harbor while attemI
ing to weaken the enemy throu
minor warfare, particularly with so
marines and mines, to a point wht
Ah attack on the main fleet will of
some prospect Of success. How c,
Rect this strategy was Is proved
the past twelve months. Thanks
the effectiveness Of our submaxin
which excited the justified adnifat1
of the whole world. 1t has been >
sIbie sorely to wound the British ft
"fn addition, our submarine q
has busted Itself since the ees1nn
n the yoar in an entirely unexpec