Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-07
JELL|COE MUST SOLVE
FOUR NAVAL PROBLEMS
Great Results Are Expected From
Change al the British
Admiralty.
LOOK FOR AGGRESSIVE POLICY
Member OF Parliament Declares Sub
marine Menace Calls for Vigorous
Hunt by Every Means Possible.
Discusses Distribution OF Fleet.

LONDON. January 6.-commander
OF Parliament. in an interview. says
the Board OF Admiralty lost its pres
tige aud authority largely owing to
its defensive policy"
Ills statement. in part. is rs fol-
lows:
The expected change at the Admi-
rally has been made. and our policy
now must be to give Admiral Jcllicoe
every chance of proving his mettle.
lie will be judged by results. and llc
must be granted A reasonable time for
getting into his stride and making
those changes which will permit us
to cope more effectively with the sub
marine peril and with hostile move
ments in southern English waters.
II lay stress on the distribution OF
the fleet because there has been an
uneaGy feeling that the grand fee,
was getting more OF the small ships
than was absolutely necessary. 10 the
detriment of the submarine hunt and
the protection OF the trade routes. In
the future we hope both problems will
he smartly handled in the Nelsouian or
offensive spirit. which has no connec-
ton with adventures such as the pom
bardment OF shore works defended by
heavy guns. but means hunting the
German warship. surface or Submersi-
BILE, and Installing into the enemy's
heart the traditional fear or our sea
might.
-Four problems Jellicoe is called
upon 10 solve:
"I) The submarine menace.
"t2) The defense of the trade in the
North Sea.
"f3) The Transport question.
20 The opening OF the Baltic.
1.-THE submarine menace calls for a
vigorous hunt by every means possible.
and II should be the work or 4 special
committee, quite apart from the in
ventions board. ever to bring n fresh
and active mind to bear on this peril,
Hunting the enemy night and day
would soon curb his newly found ag-
gr~esslveness.
TRANSPORT QUESTION
D~IFFICULT OF SOLUTION
The solution of the transport qucs-
ton involves the eschewing OF wasteful
use of shipping and n well-devised and
standardiZed system Of building. Co
ordination with the Russian fleet Is
the primary step to be taken to re
open the Baltic.
I be quite frank. owing to the
lack of prestige commanded by the
Board Of Admiralty, We have not tina,
ascendancy in the direction of the al
lied navieS that we should enjoy rs
the worlds greatest sea power. and IL
is TO be hoped the board under JeIli-
coe will assert It's right 10 advise the
allies as to the best and most profitable
employment OF their fleets. There
should he the same coordination OF
direction AT sea as we are slowly ar
irving at Oh land.
u am absolutely convinced that the
r~eopening OF the Baltic is perfectly
feasible. The advantages Of n shorter
and more direct route to Russia are
too patent to be set out in detail.
Further. If we blockaded the Baltic,
We should destroy the American argu-
mcnt that since we cannot nreyent
trade between Sweden and
therefore our blockade is unfair and
incomplete. inasmuch as it discrimi-
mates against America. but leaves
Sweden untouched"