Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-26

HOME AGAIN

,o.ioos welcome to the great feet that has been participating
with the British Grand Fleet in the North sea during the past year is
no less enthusiastic than the greetings extended to the soldier boys
who have been driving the Hun out of France and Belgium. While
the navy has had no opportunity to take a spectacular part in the
great wal it has distinguished itself to no small degree and has easily
upheIa the reputation of the American navy.
Were is not for the British feet in the beginning of the war Ger
hsny would have won in the first year of the struggle. If while the
German hords were marching across Belgium the German feet, easily
the master of the French feet, could have been free to attack the
French ports and prepare a landing at CALAIS, Hayre, Brest IT even
bordeaux for an attack on Paris from the rear, the French could not
lave lasted for more than a month or two 1t was the British feet
that kept the Germans bottled up at kel making all Germany $
boosted power on the e a nonentiy.
With the fleet thus helpless Germany turned to ruthless subma-
rine warfare and Immediately made trouble for herself wit hcountries
that were endeavoring to remain neutral. This drew America INTO
the war and when all the facts are known it will be found that the
American navy was the one big factor in overcoming this menace
Cur destroyers proved to be most effective and the inventions Of
Americans in the development of the depth bombs and other weapons
10 fight the undersea boat, gives to the American navy the glory oil
making the seas safe once more for shipping.
Not the least achievement of the navy has been the conveying of
the vast fleets of transports, food ships and vessels loaded with am
munition to Europe. The recent report of the Secretary of the Navy
has emphasized this wonderful work. Nothing like it has ever been
known in history. Were it not for the efficiency of the navy the army
would never have had the chance to distinguish itself as it has.
But the vessels that steam into New York harbor today
were in European waters for the one great purpose of meeting the.
German feet. With the development of the submarine, the airplanes#
and the dirgible balloons, an uncertainty was added to warfare on
the seas that caused even Great Britain no little concern. There was
always the possibility of a concerted attack, all the German forces
coming out at once. With a great feet of submarines operating under
the sea, with the air feet of battle planes and balloons in the air and
with the battleships and battle cruisers on the surface there was a
grave possibility of the Germans being able to break through. 1t was
not until the American feet arrived to join the British in the North
sea that the uncertainty was removed and security was felt From
that time on there was no fear of the German attack, n 10 matter in
what manner it might be made.
1t was not the fault of the gallant sailors that manned these
ships that they did not get a crack at the Hun vessels. That the boys
were ready and only too anxious for a real scrap goes without saying
But such was not to be their lot.
They were able, however, to participate in what will doubtless
be known as the greatest naval surrender in history. Without the
loss of a man, without firing a shot the entire German naval power
was meekly handed over to the allied powers. 1t was a glorious vic
tory, after all, and proud indeed, re the American people of the
brave boys who, under the stars and stripes, had no small part in it.
Today these boys r welcomed home. As glorious as has been
the achievement of the army, there is nothing that will rob the navy
of the prestige that it holds in the minds of the American people. The
enthusiastic greeting that the big gray ships received in New York
tarbor this morning was the sentiment of the whole country.