GERMANY'S FAILURE

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 125, 27 May 1919, Page 7

GERMANY'S FAILURE

IN THE SUBMARINE WAR.

j NO INITIATIVE OR DASH. LORD JELUCOE'S CRITICISM. (Received 1.25 a.m.) ADELAIDE, this day. Lord Jellicoe, speaking at the Parliamentary luncheon in his honour, after detaihng the difficulties of dealing with the submarine menace, and the <reat work accomplished by the British Xavy and the mercantile marine, said that he had very serious anxiety in the early days. Whatever the result might be he did his best. He did not hesitate to say that if the German submarines had been manned by Britishers not a British ship would have been left afloat It was an extraordinarily easy task, and the way the Germans failed over it showed that want of initiative and dash which, to his surprise, the German fleet showed throughout the war. There was never much anxiety regarding the German surface fleet' but disguised raiders were difficult to tackle If the Germans liked they could have sent out hundreds. Thank goodness they failed to realise how easy it was. The lesson learned during the war was simple. It was to be ready.

We no doubt had long years of peace before us, but he would "not trust the destinies of the Empire to anybody hut the British Navy, backed by "the "valuable assistance of the surest overseas Dominions.—(A. and X.Z. Cable.)