ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15535, 10 March 1916, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

THE ROYAL NAVY.

FIRST LORD'S DEFENCE

MAJOR WIKSTON

CHURCHILL'S SPEECH

UNFORTUNATE IN FORM AND

SUBSTANCE

(By Cable.—Prees Association.—Copyright.; * LONDON, March 8.

Speaking in the -House of Commons on the Navy Estimates, Mr Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, said Major xinston Churchill's speech was unfortunate in form and substance, and calculated to amuse doubts, misgiving", and suspicions. BATTLESHIP DELAYS. There had ibeen no breach of continuity between the policies of the lo4tand the present Boards of Admiral - .y. or any slackness in pressing on wiiu naval construction work. The ?:>eecl in building our ships compared most I favourably with what had been done by any other country. The Admiralty were doing -their utmost to alleviate the shortage of laixmr. The delay. in the completion of certain "Dreadnoughts" j» - a& LaAo - Board ..buildinc

monitors and using for them guns and KuDemountings designed for capital ships. VAIN, EMPTY FEARS. He was not pessimistic regarding the strength of the Grand Fleet, which was more powerful than when Major Winston Churchill resigned, and would be more powerful still. A contest between two holders of the same office was meither decorous nor profitable. Let poople dismiss rain, empty fears." The Navy to-day was far stronger than ever it had been. AN ASTOUNDING PROPOSAL. Mr Balfour declared that he had not been impeded by a single person. He had listened to Major "Winston Churchill's suggestion about Lord Fisher with profound stupefaction. Major "Winston Churchill had never made the smallest concealment in public or private of what he thought of Lord Fisher. Everybody's impression was that Major Churchill thought that Lord Fisher -was singularly unlike the saviour of his country. Major Churchill urged the return of the distinguished sailor, from whom, he said, six months ago, he could get no clear guidance or firm support. He could not follow the workings of Major Churchill's mind. ADMIRAL JACKSON'S WORK.

Mr Balfour paid a tribute to the work of Admiral Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson. (First Sea Lord of the Admiralty). He said he would regard himself as contemptible if he yielded to a demand of this kind, made in. such a way. The country had been fortunate iti getting Sir Henry Jackson's guidance and support.

MAJOR CHURCHILL'S

SUGGESTION.

NEWSPAPER COMMENT

LONDON, March 8

The newspapers receive the suggestion of Lord Fisher's recall to the Admiralty with marked coldness, though they are anxious that his genius should be utilised to the full.

'l'he "Morning Post" considers the suggestion as amazing effrontery in view of the joint responsibility of J>ord Fisher and Major Winston Churchill in regard to the Dardanelles campaign. Major Winston Churchill returns to the front to-morrow.

IN THE NORTH SEA

■ f A CERTAIN LIVELINESS."

DUTCH TRAWLER REPORTS LARGE GERMAN FLEET. (Received March 9th, 8.15 0.m.) LONDON. March 8. A telegram from Ymuiden states that a trawler reports that she sighted oil' Terschelling on Monday afternoon, a .fleet of at least 50 German warships, followed by a large fleet of armed trawlers, two big Zeppelins, and numerous submarines, proceeding westward.

On Monday morning five large cruisers of unkuown nationality passed Ymuiden, steaming at full-speed. It is conjectured that the German activity is in connexion with an attempt to break the British blockade.

Ymuiden is a small port on the coast of North. Holland.

Terschelling .'is one of the Dutch Frisian Islands north of the entrance to the Zuider Zee.

THE GERMAN RAIDER

BRITISH PATROLS ELUDED,

' LONDON, March 8. Mr Balfour, in the House of Commons, said that tho Mowe had eluded the patrols in leaving Germany, and had sut'ceedcd in returning round the north of Iceland.

Mr Balfour's statement regarding the Mowe recalls the report that the steamer Rio Negro, which for some time acted -as supply ship to the German cruiser Karlsruhe, returned to Germany after steaming far to the north past Iceland, and down the Norwegian coast. The Karlsruhe was destroyed by a mysterious explosion in the West Indies, and part of her crew were picked up by the Rio Negro, which took them back to Germany.

THE SUBMARINE

CAMPAIGN.'

GERMANY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW,

REPORTED OFFER TO AMERICA

WASHINGTON. March 8. Germany has made an offer to the United States'to govern its submarines in accordance with international law, provided the other belligerents do not violate international law.