New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-21
Undeserved Censure of German Admiral.

The gloom spread throughout Great
Britain by TIE Admiralty's original an
rouncemcnt of the battle off the coast Of
Jutland was instantly dspelled when It
became clear that the Germans had not
won a victory; but the reaction on the
mind Of the public was manifested in re-
markable way. II was reasonable that
some resentment should be shown at the
awkward wording Of the official account
published on June >, an account which
could not fail to give the impression that
the British fleet had been worsted by the
enemy. But the resentment of many went
further; it extended even TO the enemy, as
if he had been guilty Of some fault in
saving himself. The discovery that the
German report of June was false and
that serious losses had been deliberately
concealed was gratifying enough, but it
did not suffice to atone for the failure Of
the fleet to court humiliation, a failure
which some persist in regarding as most
reprehensibe
Even Lord George Hamilton. sometime
First Lord Of the Admiralty, appears to
share this remarkable opinion. He extols
the gallant manner in which Admiral
Beatty led his squadron against great
odds and contrasts it with the caution Of
the Germans, who drew off as soon as
the main British forces appeared on the
scene an other words" he says, "the
German sailor, though brave and well
trained, will not take the risks of fighting
against the odds which the British navy
accept as the necessary tradition of his
profession and, referring to Napoleon's
appraisal Of the relative weight of moral
and material force in the achievement Of
victory, whenever hereafter he con
cludes. "the British and German fleets
come into collision on terms Of material
equality the odds of 3 TO ! will be on the
side of the British
I This is surely a very rash conclusion,
considering what was at stake for the
Germans i'm the engagement Undoubt-
.edly the outcome was disappointing 20
the men Of the British fleet, for what
hey sought was an opportunity utterly
TO annihiate the fleet of the enemy. If
this end could be achieved the sacrifice
even of Sir David Beatty's entire squad
ron and much more besides would Of
course have been thoroughly justified
But Gcrmanys case was different. As
far as it is possible to judge, there was
not the slightest hope Of defeating the
" hole British force. while on the other
hand it was essential to avoid a disaster
or such a scale as would have left the
enemy in undisputed command Of the sea.
. Clearly. then, the reasonable course was
to retire
This is what Tourville failed TO do
perhaps because he could not. when in
1892 he found himself Unexpectedly en-
countered by overwhelming odds off Cape
Barheur His conduct of the battle was
brilliant and extremely gallant, but /
was futile. 1t was obvious from the first
that he must suffer defeat his only hope
therefore was 10 avert disaster. Who
can doubt that if he could have escaped
lie would have been abundantly justified
IT. making all the use he could of the
low visibility that prevailed on that oc-
casion. too and retiring on the earliest
opportunity? As it was, his gallantry
awaited him nothing; mis- fleet was beaten
end scattered and the disaster involved
the collapse Of the French at sea, leaving
the English and Dutch complete masters
Of the Channel.
The German fleet. having avoided de-
cisive engagement. continues 10 be a
renace. 1t is no better of than it was
before, and if the enterprise upon which
it set out involved any object besides an
lcncounter with the enemy that object has