Evening star., 1921-05-17
WHY ENTIRE ATLANTIC FLEET
WAS NOT SENT INTO WAR ZONE
Consequences Had Germans Slipped Past
Americans and British All Con-
centrated IN North Sea.

!ns the first months of the war. but
tnere was another thought in mind
| also when il was suggested that We
send over all our vessels. This was
no selhsh consideration. 1t grew out
| Of the feeling that if through any
i accident in fog or storm German bat
tleships or battle cruisers should
evade the vigilance of the British
rect and make their way into the At
lantic the only force the world could
| look to for protection was our At
lantic fleet
II the Germans had possessed the
, nerve and daring to make a dash for
tne open sea: if they had preferred to
than accept the humiliation of sur
render. | think it is quite possible
that enough of their fast battle cruis-
ers could have broken through to play
Lavoc before they were overhauled
ana sunk. In such event the pres
ence of the Atlantic feet. unengaged
and ready for instant action. would
nave been the hope and comfort of
our allies. and the proof Of our good
Judgment.
IeFmans Lacking in Audacity.
After our troops began crossing the
Atiahtic IN large numbers there was
always the risk that German cr,,is-
ers. would appear suddenly. attack
ing and sinking TRANSPORTS Ioolxinp
back now. ] find it difficult to believe
mat the Germans did not attempt +,
90 inns thing Had they succeeded in
even one OR two cases il would have
fnean Mt much to them. They lacked
the audacity.
AS things obviously approached a
climax and victory hung in the bal
ance in 1918. felt the possibility Of
bold venture bv the German nav
was so great that il must he con.
! sidered most seriously. II seemed to
me that the Germans were likely 70
mae one splendid dash in a risk
everything effort TO win the war.
dispatched division of dread
naughts overseas under the command
Of Admiral T. S. Rod:-ers with spe-
! cific instructions to he vieiIant for
the appearance Of any possible Ger
man cruiser. and, at all hazards. to
give protection 70 the American troop
transports
The British fleet and Admiral Rod
! mans division were based at Scapa
| Flow.
Wight Have Sunk ThOusands.
If the miracle Of escape had ham
pened. one German raider. free. and
in the vicinity of Bres;. could hay.
sunk troopships with thousands of
men before ii could have been sunk
unless powerful dreadnaughts stood
between the transports and danger.
SO Admiral Rodgers division was
based in Bantry bay. in a position to
intercept.
If we had failed to take c,this pre-
caution and an enemy cruiser had
eluded the blockade. what would have
been my cOndemnationr Had We
through such neglect or error Of
judgment lost the lives of any of our
men | could not have forgiven my
self. and the country would not hav.
forgiven me.
But the Germans were too pru-
dent to make this venture. Under
like circumstances. I believe. sooner
than make possible al ignOtniniOus
ScaDa Flow. the men of the American
Navy or the British navy would have
died Pm the resOlv. to 20 down at
; least in the last dash against the
enemy.
Question of Rank.
There was minor difficulty which
was involved in the proposal to send
| Admiral Mayo and In" Atlantic fleet
| to the North sea. ! mention il only
! to assert cmphat icaIly that if con-
| siderations of naval strategy, cousid-
eratiOns affecting the common in
terests, had made il wise TO send
Mayo and his ships this particular
| difficulty would have been brushed
| aside As man ficks the ash from
/ his cigar.
| II lay in the question which naval
| officers and others raised as to
: in command. would displacr tdmiral
r.atty. commander in -chicf Of the
, British grand feet. or be subject TO
| his direction.
| II was a question Of rank WHICH
! in peace InantuverS would have been
| q question of much importance but
! in the worlds hour Of agony aud
need il maItered far IcSs than other
| things
! Mayo Eager to Go.
! A. least 80 thought Admiral Mayo.
! who's. only wish "as to get into the
war zone and to be where the big
p-St chance la" for a big fight H."
would have gone gladly. conccding
. The ranking position L" tho officer
. .:ho commanded the largest feet and
I VINO was most familiar with the
: iighting ground--the North sea
! 1t is one of my regrets that Mayo
and Beatty and Rodman did not get
the chance to so after the Germans
! toe ether. have idea that had
! they been turned loose and told T."
/ go get 'em" they would have found
A way
| Uor.rish,, 1921. h1 John r. Ollie. Copy
' rish; by National Newspaper Service. Copy-