New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-20
The North Sea
Further Dissertations on the Tasks of the Opposing Fleets
With Some Remarks Raids
By Cherdrdi Davis

though the Germans had missed the oppor'
tunity of possibly destroying her and one
or more of the other English ships, when
on this occasion first showed some rather
serious defects of design. For even lands
man in reading the accounts of the Jutland
battle must notice that the Germans apparent
ly found it easier to destroy ship OF the
Queen Mary type than the English did to de-
stroy a corresponding German vessel. In an
earlier article | referred TO the superior
armor Of the German ships of the same date
as the English. 1t is not my intention, how
ever TO give a history of the naval events
IN the North Sci since August, 1914, great
as the temptation is to recall the many
raids and encounters, which are as full of
dash and spirit as any events of days gone
by. They will form fascinating chapter
/ in future naval history.
From what / have said above it will be
seen that the English ships are all over the
North Sea. The mine sweepers are every
where, the destroyers and light cruisers are
so spread out that they in part cover these
vessels, and at all times remain in touch
with the cruisers that further in toward
the English shore. Behind these again are the
heavier ships known as the Capital Fleet,
which, however, themselves from time to
time make sortias out onto the high seas.
theoretically, the disposition OF the ships
is such as to enable rapid concentration
to be made at a given point. Practically
this rarely succeeds, for the enemy usually
takes warning, and so far has got away.
Had Beatty and Jellcoe been a few miles
closer together when the German feet
struck Beatty's, the result would undoubt-
eddy have been a crushing defeat for the
Germans. But the German combination
worked little better than the English, and
they got away with only proportionately
as heavy losses as rhe English as is gem
orally supposed.
Destroyers Best Weapon
Our destroyers have been a very welcome
reinforcement to the English feet, whose
own destroyers have been steadily on duty
since August, 1914. Many of them must be
pretty we'll worn out, and while no doubt
new fotillss are constantly being construct
ed, the wear and tear is very serious. AS l
have before suggested, these vessels are the
submarines most serious enemy, because of
their speed, their wonderful man9uvrng
powers and their very considerable bat
teries of 4-inch rapid-fire guns. They can.
of course, dominate the enemys smaller
patrol craft and mine sweepers even now
and then their smaller converted merchant
men, and are equal if not superior to the
German destroyers. When they encounter
more powerful vessels they either are sunk
or they run for the protection of their
own supporting craft. And yet with all the
many vessels engaged in the patrol Of the
North Sea- now and then such an event as
the sinking of feet Of merchant vessels
and their conveying destroyers occurs miles
away from the German base. This is an in
cident which necessarily occurs, and it shows
what skill and daring, coupled with good
luck, can accomplish.
The other side of the story must not be
forgotten. The English recently destroyed
a fleet of German merchant ships on their
way from Holland to Germany, and caught
the Krokodil and her escorting patrol ships
in the Cattegat, many hundred miles away
from England, and destroyed the squadron
How many raiders the English have sunk
is not told, just as the fate Of many a u
boat is known but not tod. The nerves
of the German sailors engaged in such
work are necessarily affected in time by
such secrecy. For with all that have told
goes the constant hunt for submarines
These craft have become wary of the armed
merchantmen and the destroyers. OF the
latter many have been worn out, as have
said, and many a crew has been worn out as
well, for life on destroyer in bad weather
is awful. OF the British and Irish coasts
there is endless bad weather for nine
months of the year. 1t is much rougher
than on our coast even in summer
The Cry for Ships and More Ships
The English Channel has been marvel
lousy protected, and any fair-minded per-
son must admit that the English have held
the North Sea wonderfully we'll against the
Germans. The spirit and energy and fresh
ness of will lead to activity
than ever. Should Russia make peace and
begin to supply Germany with food and
other necessares land this is a possibility
not to be oyerlookedl, the blockade would
still have to be continued just as closely as
ever to prevent German warships from get
ting out II will go on until the decisive
action takes place in which the Allied or
the German feet will be destroyed. In the
meantime the cry for ships and more ships,
naval for fighting as well as mercantile for
transporting troops and supplies, is as un-
ceasing as the beat Of the surf on our
own coast