THE BRITISH NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 7

THE BRITISH NAVY.

MORE POWERFUL THA2J EVER. Two interesting ietten have been, received from the secretary ef the Navjr League, London. "Absolutely and relatively," says the writer,' ''tie' .British Navy is more powerful upon the seas now tnaii at any time in our .history. The destruction of the German fleet in the Fsilktanda leaves but a few scattered cruiaere belonging to the enemy on the world-wide waters outside the North Sea. British commerce is proceeding under normal conditions, and the ordinary everyday life of the community here is practically the same as before the war. You must not be in • any sense disturbed by the report* which may have reached yon of "tfyi German raid upon the Yorkshire coast, This murderous attack has had no military significance, and does not in tin , . smallest degree affect the ultimate result of the struggle. The raid has, however, done Germany incalculable harm in neutral countries, more 'especially in America; clusively -that - every— consideration "of international law will be trampled upon by the enemy when it suits-liis purpose to do so. '■ "You will probably have°seen a' 'cable report of the Note of protest presented • by the United States Government "to the British Government on the subject 0t" the treatment of neutral commerce «ffd British.'warships." "Yon Heed' -Hot; -hoirever, take this very seriously. Any rep-« resentation made by the United States will be treated sympathetically by the Government "and the people of thi» country. It must be remembered that we are fighting an unscrupulous opponent, who has no regard whatever for the Law of Nations, and the British Navy, therefore cannot be too strict in it* watch. upon., the .import, of conirubend either through neutral ports, or if "attempted directly, to ports of the enemyThe American- -people -understand perfectly that the sea-has been kept open to the commerce of all countries dnrinsr 'the past, hundred years, and altliouglt this country had complete control of th.i sea, and its navy was supreme every- : where, our power was neTer- emplbyed otherwise than to secure fullest liberty; for every other community. The-"feei" ing both at the " Admiralty "".*jfd Wk* Office is very confident, and the lat*tfi news front fleetrand annygive the fullest satisfaction that_the procees of throttling-the-enemy is proceeding witli steady j