Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-12
Book 30 Written By Jellieoe|
: Tell. OF Experiences OF
Fleet While II Was Short
OF Destroyers And Cruis-
ers And With Defensele..;
Bases.

London. Feb. 12.-The dangers to
which the British grand fleet, short
OF cruisers, destroyers and with de
fenseless bases, was exposed. during
the first two and one-half years Of
the war owing to the German use Of
submarines, mines and torpedoes,. is
described in q book written by Ad-
miral Ytscount Jellicoe. former COM
mander OF the fleet; and, published to-
DAY, covering the activities of 1914-16.
Admiral, Jellicoe points out that the
German. high seas fleet possessed S8
destroyers. compared with 42 for the
grand fleet. and reveals that owing
to the submarine menace the grand
fleet in the fall.of 1914 moved from
Swilly and only returned to the North
sea when the anchorage in Scapa
Neither in October. 1914, nor in
May, 1916, Admiral Jellicoe says. did
the British margin of superiority JUS
tify him in disregarding the en-
emys torpedo fire. The situation
gradually improved after 1916, espe-
cially as the light cruiser and de-
stroyer forces with the grand fleet
increased steady, after the battle Of
danger OF successful torpedo attack,
while the inclusion Of class K sub
marines made it probable that the
enemy. would suffer more severely
from submarine attack than the Brit
ish. Regarding 1918, Admiral Jelli-
coe says:
"The position was assured and we
could have Afforded to take, risks
which in 1916 would have been most
unwise. II the German fleet had be-
come sout to battle. a terrible punish-
ment awaited them.'
The Battle of Jutland. % .
One-third Of the admiral's book is
devoted to the battle OF Jutland. In
summing up the LESSONS Of the bat
tie, Admiral Jellicoe dwells upon "the
danger involved in leaving too much
to chance in; fleet action because our
/ fleet was the one and ohly. factor
vital to the existence Of the empire
and, indeed. to the Allied cause %
I'VE had no reserve outside the
battle fleet which could in any way
replace 1t in the event Of disaster OF
even should its margin of superiority
be eliminated" the admiral contin.
ues., r...
Admiral Jellicoe says he knew. that
his ships were inadequately protected
with armor compared. to the German
vessels Of !, the battle cruiser type
while the German fleet In the battle
toA SASA0A0 WAS A0A. lUCkICk Olk I11s
number OF destroyers. In addition
the Germans possessed "a most eff.
cient armor piercing she'll" The ad
miral continues: ..s, =, g
when the battle fleets sxppdproa xpd,r Chez
there was difference of reckoning
between the British battle fleet ant
the battle cruiser squadrons due tt
! the cruisers having been engaged fol
several hours and having repeated,
altered their course Hence, insteai
of being encountered right ahead, tn.
bow" a.
Instant action was necessary, tn,
admiral says. and he decided to de
Eploy on the port wing division, thu
compelling the Germans to turn OF t.
starboard to avoid being crossed. Thi
maneuver which has been described
as mastery by reviewers. threw. tn,
enemy into complete confusion. TIL,
German commander in chief realized
that his only hope lay in escape, prof
iting y-'his superiority in torped,
\ craft, low visibility, the. approach o
darkness and the proximity Of hi
bases and mine fields.
l. Used Many Torpedoes.
i The enemy at this, period fire.
hundreds of torpedoes, as German Of
ficers have since stated. Admiral Jel