New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-18
Sorties of the German Fleet.

Rumors Of an impending naval fight IN
the North Sea have lately been revived
by the news that merchant vessels bound
for Holland were detained in the Downs,
and again by some observations attributed
TO an officer of the British Admiralty.
According TO this authority, the German
high sea fleet made three sorties last
month. but failed 10 find the enemy. BE
cause they kept along the coast by the
mouth Of the Elbe and through the Blight
of Hehgoland. and did not venture outside
the lines Of mines that had been Land
down by them"
The adventure does not sound exactly
thrilling. but recalls an old coup!et m
spired by a celebrated episode in the Seven
Years War:
We went, we saw, were seen, like valiant men
Sailed up the bay. and then sailed back again.
If the Germans had been desperately
eager for a trial Of strength there proba-
( bly would not have been much difficulty IN
! the matter. But cruising in the bay,
staggering under the protection of the
batteries Of Grimmershorr and kugelbake
and at safe distance behind the mine
fields. was not the surest way to preclpi-
tate an encounter.
It is very likely. however. that cXcur-
sions of this kind have occasionally been
INDUCED in. They serve IN some measure
10 crafty the German people who eX-
7ected miracles of their costly navy IN the
early DAYS of the war and are not yet
reconciled TO the minor part It has been
forced to play for more than a year and
half. The food riots, too, and other
signs Of impotence make il expedlent TO
carry out naval demonstrations in order
to satisfy a demand which, however un-
reasonable, was apparently pressing
There is no mstaking the disappoint-
ment of the populace They know there IS
no longer any hope of a gradual reduc-
ton Of the British naval forces by torpedo
attacks. and it humiliates them TO see
their own fleet reduced to relative impo-
tence. Nor are they TO be satisfied with
the sound explanations offered in more or
less inspired writings that have appeared
of late in the press; their demand is that
the fleet give some account Of itself. Thus
the other day the "Bcrliner Tageblatt' de-
clarcd vehemently that "to remain longer
in the seclusion of the Kiel Canal is to be
ridiculous to-day and to invite defeat and
humiliation tomorrow" 1t is doubtless
to meet such demands that we hear from
time to time Of the earnest endeavors made
TO seek out and destroy the enemy.
Those who are aware Of the conditions in
the North Sea cannot, it is true, be much
Impressed by sorties Of this sort. They
know that these little adventures mean
r little and that hitherto the main fleet has
e. not run any dangerous risks. But they
also know that it is not expedient to run
q. risks: that if there is to be bid for abso-
lutte command Of the sea it must be under
conditions manifestly favorable, conditions
which probably have not yet presented
J themselves. Hence, when we hear Of q
disappointed German feet returning from
q vain search. we may presume that the
story is intended only for the qualification
q. Of unreasonable critics. If there is to be
a great battle, it will probably come with
out warning.