The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-08-09
CUTTING Down
ENGLISH FLEET
TO GERMAN SIZE
THIS IS THE PLAN OF THE GER
MANS. WHO HOPE TO DO so
WITH THE USE OF SUBMA-
RINES AND MINES.
81 ASSOCIATED PRESS.


Berlin, August S.-Although 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 I. Persius IN
naval review prepared for the As
ISOLATED Press. Captain Persius, for
merly an officer of the German navy,
is recognized authority on German
naval affairs, and is naval expert of
the Berliner Tageblaat. He states
that Germany's policy has been to
attempt to weaken her chief opponent
at sea by using submarines and mines.
to point where there will be some
prospect of success of an attack on
the main British feet. His review
follows:
''The German fleet may boast that
the offensive spirit it has displayed
has constituted the most prominent
and decisive feature of all the naval
theatres. War was declared on Rus
STA on August /, and on August 2
the cruiser Augsburg bombarded the
Russian war port of Libau. The de-
claration of war against France was
issued August 8, and the following
day the cruisers Goeben and Breslau
sheiled the troop embarkation points
Of Phillipsville and Bona, on the north
African coast. Finally England de-
clared war on August a, and on the
9Th the mine-layer Koenigin Luise
planted mines at the mouth of the
Thames, one of which destroyed the
cruiser Amphion.
DARING OFFENSIVE.
ave thus see that from the very
beginning 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 superior forces.
'FIn Germany the gigantic task of
our sea forces is in no wise under
estimated. We know that the British
feet alone, so 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 efficiency of our
material which, even though inferior
in quantity, can brave comparison
/ h,& Nf al g.,
violence in construction of artillery
and machinery.
eve do not forget that the British
fleet, first in the world and of glorious
history, is an opponent worthy of all
respect. Nevertheless, at the close of
the first year of the war, it may be
said without exaggeration, that its
achievements do not measure up to
our expectations. It has lacked, il
seems, the iron determination and
ability to conquer.
"The British admiralty, has held
strictly to the strategy Of caution.
The German submarine danger is, we
realize, partly responsible, but it can
not be questioned that, as a conse-
quence of undeniably evident lack of
initiative, the prestige of the British
sea power no longer stands so un-
shaken throughout the world as for
merly. British forces have been vic
torious in engagements where they
were overwhelmingly superior, as al
the Falkland Islands; and even this
is not cdaimed by the British press
to be an unconditional success, be-
cause. the battle was too costly in
time and sacrifice.
"Our naval authorities followed
generally the principle of keeping
battleships in harbor while attempt.
ing to weaken the enemy through
minor warfare, particularly with sub
marines and mines, to a point wher.
an attack on the main fleet will offe1
some prospect of success. How cor.
rect this strategy was is proved b.