Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-05
Performances Of tho Britis,, Fleet


n REAT BRITAIN is stirred by the realiza-
NJ ton that its magnificent navy, after
three years and half of war, has failed to
reap its share of triumphs, and that the Ad-
miralty has been guilty either of weakness
or indecision in every crisis which it has
faced. And insistent demand is being
voiced for more energetic policy and, il
necessary, for complete overhauling OF the
naval high command. True, the public in
sistence for action has been somewhat al
layed by the latest exploit of the mosquito
fleet, which sent eleven German ships, in
Guiding one auxiliary cruiser, to the bottom
Of the Cattegat within the past three days,
and that may be accepted as an augury of
further naval victories which will silence
criticism.
BY slow but certain degrees the British
people seem to have become conscious of the
fact that this war has. seriously challenged
its mastery of the seas. And once that mas
terry is lost the British empire is in Il sad
plight. For than a century British
power has been defined wholly in terms Of
British ships. British military strength has
lain in her fleets, and British wealth has
bech acquired through her superb merchant
marine.
At the outset OF the war the London gov
ernnlent undertook to sweep the seas OF Ger
man craft. Within thirty days this under
taking had been accomplished with measur-
able success. The German men-of-war in
homo waters retreated precipitately behind
the mined mouth of the Kiel Canal German
merchantmen, scattered all over the world
fled to neutral ports. Only handful of fleet
enemy cruisers remained at large, engaging
in raids upon allied shipping. In time the
last OF these raiders hunted down.
This part of the concerted allied program
was executed with splendid success. But in
time German submarines began to swarm
from their nreyfnp
neutral ships alike. For more than two
years the British Admiralty has sought to
cope with this menace. but with only in
different success. Scores Of undersea boats
have been sunk or captured, but not enough
Of them to reduce the tonnage losses to any
material extent. This failure Of the antisub-
nlarine campaign marked the first reverse
sustained by the great British navy.
But as long the German nigh seas fleet
could BIO kept bottled up, the British public
felt that its navy still supreme. Then
came the Jutland battle. In this German
fleet of inferior armament was not only al
lowed to inflict terrific damage upon the Brit
ish attackers. but was actually allowed to
escape. This was sad blow 10 British naval
prestige. The Admiralty had violated all
England's maritime traditions in allowing an
enemy feet to accomplish retreat
On top Of all this has come the failure OF
the British navy to effect the rescue of the
Russian ships in the Baltic. Two weeks
have passed since the Germans essayed
a naval attack upon the Russians. but British
strategy has fallen down through its inability
to penetrate the Gulf of Riga and force the
German men-of-war to give battle.
These are some of the circumstances which
have resulted in the demand in England for
more determined campaign against the Ger
man naval forces. And once the British pub
lie becomes aroused, 1t forces results 1t
did this when the Northc!ihe newspapers
compelled the reorganization of the War Of
flee. 1t did it again when the people drove
the government to reprisals against the Ger
man air raids, and it may confidently be
expected that it will insist upon greater re-
turn from Its vast naval investment