New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
German Fleet Could Be At
tackled Only by Violat-
ing Neutrals
Kerensky's Question
Is Answered
Critic Says Taking of Dam
ish Islands Would Rouse
Ire of Sweden


WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-Arthur Pol
len. famous English naval critic, came
- he defence Of the British Admiralty
today against the implied charges Ut
tered By Premier Kerensky Of Russia
vheo he asked why the British feet
vas 10. In the Baltic Sea now that the
German feet is there.
Es-enskv gave as one reason for the
-over'essness Of Russia the fact that
to British feet had not developed an
,.-aek in the Baltic, said Mr.. Pollen.
7, replying, Mr.. Pollen stated he was
-. maid agent Of the British govern
-,.--. but 81 independent critic who did
no. Ike 70 see an injustice done to the
British Admiralty.
When the Germans pushed thelr
sbins into the Gulf Of Riga, he salG'
,bsv did not Try 20 force their yessels
.s-2u-l the Russian mine fields by
4 80 means. but obtained control OF
.Se Islands and first put out the forIs
.L~ough military operations.
To- waters OF the Danish Archlpel-
80 are filed with German torpedo
tes.s and other small craft, and the
80, - the Baltic is mined heavily oy
- Germans. Therefore, the British
.o~I5 no. consider sending their meet
80 The Baltic without first taking pos.
.es,;or ~ the Danish islands, and II
- we're done there would be the men
80 - Sweden. which Is not only IN.
s-;srdlv but very hostile TO the AIMED
cause.
Question of Neutral Rights
~. porlan stated he would not say
e would not be right to take posses
- ~ he Danish islands, but de-
go - noint out the huge dangers
-. vouid be faced by an effort 10
-e-e.rate TO the Baltic, and 20 make ~
sisar that the question was only IN
s-sir mart naval. but political hrst OF
al and then military. .,,,d
Fv-ensive military operations "ouIo
have 20 be conducted 20 take possession
- .be Danish islands, and the very
srgyestiop Of such an enterprise ne
5seisred raised anew the entire CUES
.ion Of neutrals. -,..;,
~ pollen emphasized the poiltlcal
.L--.c+er Of the question, intlmatInS
49, i was a matter for the enancel-
isries 20 decide, rather than LOT 'he
Ths German feet, he stated, IN addi-
-, N the other obstacles which wouIo
eo-front an attempt 20 pass INTO .ne
psltic. can be assembled within I"ehty-
fcur hours In either the Baitle OF Ihe
North Sea By being shunted either way
through the kiel Canal, lntimatihs
Eat this would constitute a SERIOUS
-~e,sca 20 both the British forces N
the Baltic, II they should enter IT, Gill
$50 me North Sea.
Tba value Of British naval operations
= ~ Baltic. Mr.. Pollen asserted, would
"a a. the present time IN deprIVlng
Germany OF Riga and the islands in the
c~if Of Riga. which furnish Germany
viz advance bases for an attack upon
whether the operations would be
vo~-b this don't know" he stated.
re referred 20 the driving power o.
ce-~1srv. as illustrated in the case Of
I,slv a, the present time, as showing
What Germany might do 70 Denmark II
~ Allies should disregard Denmarks
neutrality for military reasons.
Pollen Not Bitter
VI Pollen was not bitter in mis- an
,ver 20 Premier Kerensky, attroutlhe
The Russian Minister'S remarks more 70
iis deportation and lack Of information
tEan Ia resentment against the British.
He declared other statesmen OF m aa
longer experience rad said and done
80. 1rreasonable things. and cited
he Instance Of the British expedition
1gzrs. the Dardanelles.
1Asouith," he said, when the Dardai
nsnss expedition was under,ahsh haJ
rsTal experts. but when We entered the
Dar9s-eiles We committed the greatest
slurder. without parallel in the history
o. naval warfare"
VI Pollen Is Of the opinion that the
lris6 s5-,i -alties have brought consid-
erabls andeserved as well as deserved
ert.e.r-a upon themselves because OF
TIER s.r,mpt 70 conceal all their pon-
eies and 20 withhold legitimate inIor-
rst.9r from the public, which, II pub
H,hed. would be Of no military value 70