Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-08-01

BERLIN, July 31.-Although the
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 !. Pcrsius in
a naval review prepared for The
Associated Press. Captain Parsius,
formerly an officer of the German
navy, is recognized authority on
German naval affairs and its naval
expert of the Berlin Tageblatt He
states that Germany's policy has been
to attempt TO weaken her chief op-
ponent 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 re-
view 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
war theatres. War was declared
against Russia on August /, and on
August the cruiser Augsburg bonn
barded the Russian war port Of Libau.
The declaration OF war against France
was issued August 3 and on the follow
ing day the cruisers Goebon ana
Breslau shelled the troop embarkation
points of Phillipevlle and Bona, on
the North African coast. Finally En-
gland declared war on August 4, and
on the Sth the minelayer Koenigin
Luise planted mines at the mouth Of
the Thames, one of which destroyed
the cruiser Amphion
Many Victories Reported.
I'VE thus see that from the very be-
ginning German warships displayed a
TIt mil N
European waters but In distant seas
we heard of victorious combats
wherein our cruisers were engaged.
in a majority of cases the foreign
cruisers, like the home units, fought
against much superior forces.
In Germany the gigantic task OF
our sea forces is in no wise underesu-
mated. We know that the British fleet
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 deterni-
nation 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
uuantity, can brave comparison with
that of any other power for excellence
IN construction of artillery and ma
chinery
I'VE do not forget that the British
fleet first in the world and of glori-
Gus history, is an opponent worthy OF
all respect. Nevertheless, al 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. 1t has lacked, it
seems, the iron determination and
ability to conquer.
Submarines Intimidate.
"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 conse-
quent of undeniably evident lack Of
initiative, the prestige of 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 superior, as at the
Falkland islands; and even this is
not claimed by the British press to
be an unconditional success, because
the battle was too costly in time and
sacrifice.
"Our naval authorities followed
generally the principle of keeping
battleships in harbor while attempting
to weaken the enemy through minor
warfare, particularly with submarines
and mines, to a point where an attack
on the main fleet will offer some
prospect of success. How correct this
strategy was is proved by the past II
months Thanks to the effectiveness
of our submarines, which excited the.
justified admiration of the whole
world. it has been possible sorely to
wound the British fleet. .-.t.
England is Worried.
"In addition. our submarine arm has
busted itself since the beginning Of
the year In an entirely pnexepected