The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-13
MOVESOON BY
GERMAN FLEET
British Expert Expects Hidden
Battle Craft to Attack in
Some Way Soon.
MIGHT INVADE ENGLAND
Could Land Big Forces in Bel
gium or HaraSs Allies in
Straits Of Dover.

! SDec.di ,abie despatch to THK st> from Ii,
LOadoM i'o,es.
! Copyright. 1913; all rights ,<s.,crd.
I LONDON. April 1.-The naval CORE
rpondent OF the Tt,aes writes to-day con
cerning the possibilities OF action or
the part OF the German feet:
Now that II is manifest that N,
enemy is hent upon gaining Il mili,ar!
! decision on land an answer may be cx
| pected before long to the oft repeated
question: when will the high seas fee
come OUT
Nothing Is moro likely than thai
0ermany's sea forccs should ha throwr
In TO assist in the proposed smashing
OF the British army. Many reasons
could be advanced to fortify this belief
but II the commander In chief ~ the
imperial forces decides to use his sub
sidary arm in support Of his p!aps
none other il necessary 1t Is we'll that
the British people should lie prepared.
How will the high seas fleet he used
This question has now obta ined fresh
interest. Il would be absurd merely Ia
fiGht. aeains; long odds the grand feet.
]! It sends "A challenge for a decision II
will be to serve some uterior purpose.
II probably will bc to cover operations
that repreAn, greater possibilities of
attainment.
There arc three enterprises which.
although more or less gamblcs. hold out
some promise OF accomplishment which.
II only partly successful, might assist
IN the desired object.
"A hostile landing par.- on these
shores might be expected to disturb
public confidence and interrupt the Now
os endorsements ~ tho Continent.
'J-nder present conditions an attem1t
at invasion for permanent occupa ton
may be ruled out. II would necessi'atc
seizng port with wharves for the
Harding Of guns and other heavy ma
terial Eut a raid. or throwing ashore
comparatively small bodies OF troops a,
more than one point, might have pros
poets Of success. even IT, as Is probable.
they would eventually have 10 capi.r-
late when their sea communications
were cut.
Greater hopes might he entertained
from n successful landing in Belgium OF
force to assist In turning the left f,aull
OF the British army. Newport and Dun
kirk arc indicated as being valuable for
such purpose. and, supported by an
advance along the cuas, from Ostend.
the expedition might even be prepa red
10 burn It's boats. Tho calculation OF
time and distance makes such an under
taking just conceivable under faycrIng
circumstances.
The project which may appear TO
present fewer obstacles and oncr a
greater measure q: discomfort to tho
Allies. even II only partly effected. is
to push in and break down the guard
OF tie Straits OF Dover. No TRANSPORTS
would he necessary for troops II Is
required merely TO have a force OF light.
fast. well armed craft, sufficiently
formidable. with the exercise o. the
strategic element Of surprise, to rusl
the defence force barrier and so permit
the passage into the channel of a
swarm OF submarines and mine layers
with luck the latter might lie as
semoled beforehand IN Belgian ports.
and once through the straits would
exercise powerful influence for n time
upon cross-channel commun' ca t.ons and
the transport Of reenforcements and
supplies to French ports.
It must he assumed that against all
OF these undertakings. or a combination
of them, every preparation and precau-
tioh has been taken. The cardinal point
Is that II any OF these plans were tried
II would necessitate the coming out from
their shelters Of the High Seas Fleet with
all OF It's attendant auxiliaries in an
endeavor 20 prevent Interference from
The allied force under Admiral Beatty's
command. Then the British and Amerl-
can seamen would have Their ardent
wishes fulfilled"