New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-11-30
CHALLENGE THROWN.
At GERMAN navy
Head Of British Admiralty Gives
His Views in Commons ;

Base Of British Grand Fleet, Nov.
H. respondcnce) 1.-The head Of
the British admiralty, speaking the
other day in the house of commons,
flung out a challenge to the German
navy. He said: -
II disclose no secret-or, if it Is
secret. disclose fact which 1 should
be glad to tell the enemy-when I say
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 1T lies in idle.
ness like the German high seas fleet.
behind impenetrable landlocked bases.
For the purpose of removing this inn
pression 3the Associated Press repre-
sentative was asked to visit the grand
fleet, live on beard the first-line bat
tleship and observe just what sort Of
days work 1T puts in day after day
and week after week @y
/ r. 'Eeaselesa, activity is the motto Ofsthe
grand Aeetass Neither men nor ships
are permitted to gather rust, or bar
nacles. From it's base at tho northern
tip Of the British Isles, it sweeps, day
and night the 10000 square miles Of
the North Sea on ceaseless vigil, in
unflagging hope that one DAY its
watching will be rewarded by meet
ing with the enemy under circum-
stances wherein he cannot avoid bat
tic. Moreover, this sweeping of tho
ir1,l0
In the most casual moves Of ships and
men there is always a directing mimi
and directing plan The North Sea
is as well swept in relation to it's size
as the drawing room of a we'll ordered
house. The enemy's coastline is still
the British navy's frontier
The harbor which has been tho
home of the grand fleet for three
years is probably the finest of it's kind
in the world. The whole area COM
prised in this British northern base !.
about equal to the hundred-o 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 IT
practice mancuvers, including TARGET
practice.
On a sunny afternoon the currca-
pendent saw eight battleships at tur-
ret or target practice, a detachment OF
cruisers in maneuvcrs, =eaplanc-
balloon ship ut work under condi-
lions Stimulating those of actual war;
fare and. off around the edges, variou.
operations by small craft and .auxi,-
iaries.
Night target practice. which also is
conducted within the harbor. is always
1fnT 4iNNrr -i1l-A
steam down the nine-milc course,
Suddenly a scarchlight picks un q
target. Instantly every turrct is
trained, every gun directed. Then u
button Is pressed somewhere, and the
guns speak as with one voice in u
gigantic broadside that awakens the
echoes from the hills
There is an infinite variety 10 tho
turret practice on d big battleship.
The officer in charge Of the turret
speaks:
IAN enemy shell has come in
through the turret, killing men num-
bers /, 8. and 6. Right gun dis
'hled.' Connection With rest Of ship
lost. Carry on!'
The dead men file off to one sido
and watch their comrades work aa
thcy would in actual battle. There ~
I, zcst of IL game to it,
The officer speaks again:
Shell has hit turret killing all men
except numbers ! and 3. Number 3 is
wounded Ammunition
h oisting machinery disabled. Fire
started in pile Of waste behind gun.
Carry on!'
The single unwounded man left IN
the turret must now endeavor to keep
the guns in action single handed, be-
sides dealing with fire and serious
y wounded man. The dead men,
stand along the edge Of the turret and
watch their comrades efforts to Car
ry on" with interest and amusement.
1t is play, but play with a deadly cf-
Iiciency behind it, for it is intended =
that in actual battle there shall not
be a single possibility with which
these men will not be ready to oeai'