New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-14
By Arthur s. Draper

LONDON, Nov. 13.-Britain's great
est military weapon remains intact IN
the fourth year of the war. 1t is more
powerful to-day than in August, 1914
1t is absolutely ready.
I have just spent week with the
Grand Fleet-that amazing collection OF
dreadnoughts and super-dreadnoughts,
with their bodyguard of destroyers,
which is unequallcd in the whole world.
| have lived with the officers, talked
with the men, visited every part Of the
latest oil burning battleships, asked
critical questions and had just as frank
answers.
Life in the Grand Fleet is hard and
irksome, but the officers and crew have
never grown stale. They are desper-
ately anxious TO have ego" at the Ger
mans, but they are waiting patiently
without complaint. Unprecedented
events have taken place in the last few
weeks. For the first time in history
the British Admiralty has become the
target for severe criticism. In various
quarters attacks have been made.
Arthur Pollen has launched several
shafts at the Admiralty, "The Daily
Mail" has criticised the Admiralty pol.
icy and "The Manchester Guardian" has
called for a naval offensive.
JeliicOe Is Assaulted
Dozens Of others have prodded the
Admiralty for one reason or another
Sir John Jelliece, who left the feet
for job at Whitehall with the great.
est reluctance, has been bitterly as
sailed, much to the sorrow of all the
senior officers o. the Grand Fleet, who
hold him and Admiral Beatty in the
highest regard and esteem.
In the coming months much will be
said and written on British naval poll
icy, and for that reason tried 10 get
the viewpoint Of the Grand Fleet. talked
with many officers, from Admiral Mad
den, the second IN command. 10 lieu
tenants on seapiaDes, and what follows
i composite story presenting the
navy's side as uncolored as it is possi-
BILE 10 make IT,
Mistakes have been made by the
navy during the war. The battle OF
Jutland was not free from errors. But
the greatest OF all would be decision
which forced the navy into a gamble.
not that every man in the Grand Fleet
wouldn't jump at chance for action,
however heavy the odds.
The Grand Fleet is the guardian Of
the British Isles, the watchdog OF the
seas. the last line of civilizations de-
fences. Should everything else fail,
should the enemy pierce the Western
front, there still remains this obstacle
in his way. Germany could lose its navy
and still remain unbcGten. but Britain
without the dominance OF the sea would
be annihilated.
Britain viii Win
So long as the British navy lasts
Germany cannot win. The Allies can
gamble on land, but when decisive
battle is fought at sea there must be
only one result for Britain.
A naval offensive can be made in
two ways: First. the British Grand
Fleet can engage the German land de-
fences. Britain has considerable naval
supremacy over the enemy and the lat
ter is naturally chary of his ships. He
hasn't the least intention OF entering
on finish fight and prefers hit and
run policy. He plays safe.
Now and again Admiral Capeile
orders what corresponds to trench
raid-an attack on a small convoy,
such as the recent raid on Seandi-
navian neutrals. The average radius of
visibility in the North Sea IS approXi-
mately five miles by day and probably
less than thousand yards by night.
Taking the most favorable conditions
it would require constant watchfulness
by more than 1000 ships patrolling the
10000 square miles of the North Sea
to prevent the German ships from
making sporadic attacks on shipping.
But still an attack is the exception,
not the rule. There may come a time
when because of desperation, or even
excessive optimism, the German navy
may venture out from behind its mine
fields and accept battle. She could
have it tomorrow II she desired. If