The sun., 1919-02-13
JELLICOE REVEALS
FLEETS WEAKNESS
Admiral in Book Says British
Were Short of Cruisers
and Destroycrs.
HELD SLIGHT MARGIN
Germans Superior in Some
Shells and in Search
lights.
HELD SLIGHT MARGIN
s,scioi cdJie Despatch TO TIE srS from tht
london Times Sertice.


Copyright. 1919: all rights reserved
LoNpoN, Feb 1.-THE Times highly
praises Admiral Jellicoe's candor in
nis book The Grand Fleet."> published
to-day II says his account OF the Grand
Fleet is surprising In it's revelation OF
the fleets weakness In 1914. especially
in It's possession OF only fortytwo de-
stroyers against Germany's lightweight.
"Our cruisers lacked speed, We had no
large airships. the armor OF our battle
cruisers was inferior to that Of German,
ships of similar type Our battleships
we're designed to suit inadequate dock
facilities because the docks cost much
money but don't appeal to the magma
ton of the public. So many of our
capital ships developed defects that
the margin between ourselves and the
Germans became unpleasantly small.
That is why the loss of the Audacious
was concealed as long as possible.
The enemy's best chances we're be-
fore April. 1915. but thereafter they
gradually grew worse
Admiral Jellicoe wonders why the
Germans did not attack the feet at
Scspa flow. Jellicoe did not attack be-
cause he lacked destroyers also the
German defences were formidable The
Germans feared to attack lest they be
Wedheneu tHe bTltlen WOulO gam CON-
troll of the Baltic and land Russian
army In Germany. The German policy
Of inactivity was the worst for England
they could have adopted. but was carried
100 far and destroyed their own morale
leading to mutiny.
This Admiralty would not allow Jel-
llcoe to attack at Zeebrugge as he
wished. but wanted him to attack
Helgoland. which he says. all the flag
officers Of the fleet considered madness
Regarding Jutland Jellicoe says the
enemy possessed a highly efficient ar
NOR piercing projectile. with a fuse ar
ranged to insure the shell bursting
inside the armor. At the opening OF the
main battle the light was failing. The
Germans were remarkably equipped for
night action. having better searchlights
superior star shells and superior drec-
tor firing gear.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE dangers to
which the British grand feet. short Of
cruisers, destroyers and with defence
less bases. was exposed during the first
Two and half years OF the war owing
10 the German use of submarines. mines
and torpedoes. is described in book
written by Admiral Viscount Jellicoe
former commander Of the fleet, and pub
l'shed to-day, covering the activities Of
1916.
Neither in October. 1915 nor In MAY.
1916. Admiral Jellicoe says, did the
British margin of superiority justify
him in dlsregarding the enemys tor
pedo fire. Tho situation gradually I'm
proved after 1915, especially as the light
cruiser and destroyer forces with the
grand fleet increased steadily after the
battle OF Jutland. considerably reducing
the danger Of successful torpedo attack,
while the inclusion OF Glass X SUBJ
marines made It probable that the enemy
would suffer more severely from sub
marine attack than the British. Regard
ing 1918, Admiral Jellicoe says:
The position was assured and we
could have afforded to take risks which
II 1915 would have been most unwise
" the German fleet had come out to
battle terrible punishment awaited
them
Admiral Jellicoe says ne knew that
his ships were inadequately protected
with armor compared to the German
vessels of the battle cruiser type while
the German feet in the battle Of Jut-
land was far better of in the number OF
destroyers. In addition the Germans
possessed most efficient armor
piercing she'll"
Forced Germans to Flee.
Tie Admiral continues:
When the battle fleets approached
there was difference Of reckoning be-
'ween the British battle feet and the bat
lie cruiser squadrons due to the cruisers
having been engaged for several hoursand
having repeatedly altered their course.
Hence instead Of being encountered
rsht ahead the enemy appeared on the
-srboard bow"
Instant action WAS necessarv thu a.
miral says, and he decided to deploy on
The port wing division, thus compelling
the Germans to turn of to starboard to
avoid being crossed. This maneuvre,
which has been described as mastery by
reviewers, threw the enemy into com
p.ete confusion. The German comman-
Ger in chief realized that his only
Aope lay In escape, and profited by his
superiority in torpedo craft. low VISIBLE |
Ivy, the approach OF darkness and the
proximity Of his bases and mine fields
The enemy at this period fired hun
dreds Of torpedoes, as German officers
nave since stated. Admiral Jellicoe con-
t'nres, and though the Germans were
IN the gravest peril the position of the |
Grand feet itself was menaced by de-
,eTnned torpedo attacks In thick
weather
But the British fleet by turning its
battle line four times during the action, |
mo Admiral says. got clear of the tor |
Lsdnes which were racing toward the |
British ships and defeated the tactics |
upon which the Germans based their |
hopes. Admiral Jellicoe pays tribute to |
NE skill of his Captains in handling
'neir ships and avoiding torpedoes and |
collisions while keeping their positions |
His searchIiEhts Inferior.
Admiral Jellicoe explains why he did
Not seek night action and refers to the |
more powerful German searchlights, the ,
superiority OF the enemy in destroyers
ana the greater number OF torpedo tubes
htted in the enemy ships. giving the |
enemy an opportunity OF scoring heavily
AZ the outset OF an action the result of |
which would always be a matter of |
chance.
After estimating the relative strengths |
"' the two fleets early in the war Ad- |
inral Jellicoe expresses surprise that
he Germans were so cautious, and |
says:
II this country in the future decides
70 rely for safety against raids or In
Naslon on the fleet alone 1t IL essential
mat we possess a considerably greater
margin of superiority over possible
enemy in all classes of vessels than we
ga In August. 1914"
ALLIES TO TAKE ENEMY SHIPS.