The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-12-13
THE BRITISH FLEET BUSY
LIES BEHIND NO IN1PREGNABLE
SHORE DEFENSES.
Hoping to Meet Germans, Ceaselessly
Securing North Sea in Search
of the Huns Grand Fleet.

speaking the other day in the House
of Commons, flung out challenge tc
the German navy. He said, Il dis.
close no secret, or if it is a. secret
I disclose a fact which l should be
glad to tell the enemy-when / saw
that the British grand fleet in its
northern base lies behind no shore
defenses, but relies on it's own
strength alone
There are people in the United
States who do not appreciate the ac-
tivities of the British navy in it's
home waters, who think that it lies
in idleness, like the German high
seas fleet, behind impenetrable land
locked bases. For the purpose of
removing this impression, the Assoc
ciated Press representatives was
asked to visit the grand fleet, live on
board the firstline battleships, and
observe just what sort of days
work it puts in day after day and
week after week.
Ceaseless Activity.
Ceaseless activity is the motto of
the grand fleet. Neither men or ships
are permitted to gather rust or bar
nacles. From it's base at the north
ern tip of the British Isles, it sweeps
day and night the 100000 square
miles of the North sea on ceaseless
vigil, in unflagging hope that one
day it's watching will be rewarded by
a meeting with the enemy under
circumstances wherein he cannot
avoid battle. Moreover, this sweep
ing Of the North sea is no mere aim
less patrol. In the most casual
moves of ships and men there is
always a directing mind and a di-
recting plan. The North sea is as
we'll swept in relation to it's size as
the drawing room Of well ordered
uUuS0. uO OACLuS SOooIAiAS ~
still the British navy's frontier.
The harbor which has been the
home of the grand fleet for three
years is probably the finest of its
kind in the world. The whole area
comprised in this British northern
base is about equal to the hundred
odd square miles which the Germans
evacuated in France last spring. The
battleship squadrons, for example,
within their own particular section
of this great base, have room for
every kind of practice manoeuvers,
including target practice.
At Target Practice.
On a sunny afternoon the CORE
spondent saw eight battleships at
turret or target practice, a detach-
ment of cruisers in manoeuvers, a
seaplane-balloon ship at work under
conditions Stimulating those of actua.
warfare. and off around the edges
various operations by innumerable
small crs* and auxiliaries.
Night target practice, which .alsc
is conducted within the harbor, is
always an interesting sight. The
battleships steam down the nine-mile
course. Suddenly searchlight picks
up target. Instantly every turrent
is trained, every gun directed. Then
a button is pressed somewhere, and
the guns speak as with one voice IN
a gigantic broadside that awakens
the echoes from the hills.
PLAYING the Game.
There is an infinite. variety to the
:turret practice on big battleshlp
The officers in charge of the turret
speaks: AN enemy shell has come
in through the turret killing men
Nos. /, 8, and 6. Right gun dis
abled. Connection with rest of ship
lost. Garry on" The dead men
file off to one side and watch thelr
comrades work as they would IN ac'
tuai battle. There is the zest OF
game to it.
The officer speaks again: Sheil
has hit turret, killing all men eA'
cep4 Nos. ! and 3. No. 3 is seriously
wounded. Ammunition hoistlng ma
chinery disabled. Fire started IN pie
Of waste behind gun. Carry on" Tne
single unwounded man left in the
turei must now endeavor to keel
the guns in action single-handeo' oe
sides dealing with fire ana Sc
riously wounded man. The oea(
men" stand along the edge OF tn'
turret and watch their comraoes
efforts to "caSry on with 1nteres
and amusement.
It is play, but play with aeaoi
efficiency behind it, for it is lntenoe'
that in actual battle, there snail no
he a single possibility with Whlcl