The Washington times., 1915-07-26
AS SEEN IN ENGLAND.
By ED L. KEEN.


greatest victory in this year-old war
was won before the war started.
Forty or fifty years from now
the Germans willing-when the Brit
ish 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 Jellicoe. Sir Frederick SUR
dee and Admiral John de Robeck.
They may even include Lord Kitch-
ener, although II a popular vote were
taken at the present time. 1t Is hard
ly likely the verdict In Kitchener's
favor would be unanimous.
But II the English nation should
fail to recognize in this distribution
OF awards a certain blond, blue
eyed young statesman Of dandified
mien and lisping voice. who by the
fortunes Of politics happened to be
the first lord of the admiralty In the
summer Of 1914. 1t will demonstrate
that other forms OF government be-
sides republics are ungrateful.
"Brittania rules the waves" today
because of Winston Churchill. To his
foresight, Imagination and nerve Is
due the fact that when the war lord
threw down his gauntlet, the British
fleet was ready. England's command
Of the seas was assured before
Kaiser Wilhelm began scattering war
declarations through the chancellor
les Of Europe.
Perhaps Churchill knew. Anyhow.
most Of his colleagues in the cabinet
haI m 10 nj n
OF them. His resignation lay on the
table, to be taken up II events should
prove that he was wrong.
Early In July the grand feet had
assembled off the south coast OF
England for It's annual play at war.
The maneuvers followed their usual
course. and under all the rules the
hc"' should have been scattered
wee before July 2S. the day Aus
tria declared war against Serbia.
The next day-three days before Ger
many declared war against Russia.
five days before she declared war
against France. and nearly a week
before England officially entered the
fray-Churchill converted the pro-
longed maneuvers into the real
thing. On the night OF July % there
was flashed through newspaper Of
fees Of London the brief announce
ment. ''the British feet has left
Portland under sealed orders"
Where 1t went the writer didn't
know then. he doesn't know now
and II he did. he wouldn't dare tell.
1t isn't necessary to know. The re-
suits are sufficient. The main feet
kept together. with superior force.
ready to meet the Germans should
they come out without previously no.
tifying Great Britain of their inten-
ton. with scouts thrown out toward
the German coast to watch for them.
and patrols to guard the coast of
England.
There may he some doubt about
England's assistance to the allies
upon the land. There can be no ques-
tion of her services upon the water.
Her losses have been heavy both In
ships and men, but not incommen-
surate with the advantages gained
for her allies as we'll as herself by
remaining mistress OF the seas
Beside bottling up the German grand
feet-the one outstanding achieve
ment of the entire war-England
speedily swept the German mercan-
tile marine from the oceans. de-
stroyed Won specs rowing squadron.
put out OF DublneSS tne herman COM
merce raiders. and provided safe
convoy. not only to her own troops
and their supplies across the chan
mel. but to millions of dollars worth
OF arms and ammunition Cor both her
allies and herself across the Atlantic.
Germany's war Of attrition,, conduct
ed bv means Of submarines. can
never overcome these results. And
II Is not detracting from the praise
due Admiral Sturdee and his men
for their wonderful work in hunting
down and defeating Won spec of the
Falkland Islands to say that it was
Churchill who made this feat pos
sible.
There has been a great deal Of
criticism Of the British navy because
early in the war II failed to catch
the German East Coast raiders. and
in more recent months adequately to
protect merchant shipping against
submar arine attacks. But 1t 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 1t
comes out~in a body-if 1t ever does.
The year did not pass without its
admiralty scandal-an ugly blot on
ar otherwise creditable page. In a
piaue Admiral Lord Fisher deserted
his post as first sea lord. Rather
than disrupt the navy-as he feared
Churchill agreed to step out. The
prime minister picked Balfour as his
successor: but Fisher didn't like Bal
four any more than ne did Churchill
and refused to serve under him.
What Asquith had been willing to
overlook as temperament. he couldn't
forgive when 1t became insubordina-
ton. So Fisher was replaced by Ad-
miral Sir Henry Jackson.
Churchill the man who defeated
the German fleet before II could lift
anchor, is still in the cabinet. The
nation couldn't AFFORD to lose man
of his ginger. His Job is Chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster" which
has to do with the collection Of rents
or something Of that sort-but only
g., xLA