BRITAIN'S STEEL WALLS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 9

BRITAIN'S STEEL WALLS

WHAT THE FLEET HAS DONE NAVY LEAGUE'S REVIEW J.ho Navy League, in accordance with custom, has issued a statement of its considered view on tho naval situation at- the opening of the New Year. The message, which is signed by Mr. Robert lei-burgh, as President, and Mr. P. J. llaniion, as General Secretary, contains tho iollowing passages:— During the seventeen months of the war the achievements of the Fleet have tar surpassed the anticipations entertained at the outbreak of the conflict by the moat afrdent believer in British sea power, in every variety of operation upon which the Navy has been engaged during the past year t-liore has been a brilliant demonstration of those lighting qualities, accompanied by skill, daring, and resourcefulness, which have lor centuries been the proud tradition of tho British Flcot. It is but tho sober truth to declare that during this time of supreme crisis in tho destiny of nations the British Navy has discharged to a degree unexampled in the whole course of history its great trust as the guardian of the liberties of mankind. Tho Commandor-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet and the officers and men in all our fighting ships deserve .- the warmest congratulations of the British race throughout the world for their unswerving zeal, devotion to duty, and spirit of self-sacrifice, which have been manifest in every incident of British naval activity since the beginning of the struggle. What Has Been Accomplished. A brief summary of the achievements of the Navy in its relation to the process of the war will, it is hoped, provide seasonable food for thought: 1. Apart from a fow futile raids no British territory m any part of the World has been violated by the enemy. 2. During seventeen months of war the overseas trado of the United Kingdom reached in round figures one t'iiousatid sevan. hundred millions sterling, or one hundred million pounds per month. 3. l'ood and drink to tho value of about four hundred million pounds have been imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1915 for the maintenance of the daily life of the peoplo. 4. The sea-borne commerce of Germany, Austria, and Turkey, amounting to nearly one thousand one hundred millions sterling, has been driven from the seas.

o. Seven million tons of Gorman, Austrian, and Turkish shipping have been destroyed or driven to seel; reluge m the harbours of neutral countries. 6. Vast •'armies, with casualties at sea which only amount to one man per thousand, have been transported l'roin tho ends of the earth to tho various theatres oi war.

I. The brilliant operations of British submarines in tho Baltic Sea have crippled German strategy as directed against Russia, and have virtually completed tho blockade of Germany upon its Baltic seauoard. 8. The whole coast line of our great Ally, France, has been preserved from enemy aggression. 9. Tlio German submarine monacc, which aimed at the complete destruction of British shipping, has> been strangled in British home waters, and is being reduced ivithiu the narrowest limits in the Mediterranean. , 10- The war operations of the Allies in every sphere of conflict are being maintained by the combined support of the Allied Fleets. Mr.,Balfour at the Admiralty, The Navy League desires to acknowledge with the warmest gratification tho unqualified success w'hiSi lias attended every branch of Admiralty administration since t'he beginning of tho war. _ Mr. Balfour's direction of tho functions at tho Board of Admiralty has secured the universal appreciation of the people of the Empire, and his eminently correct interpretation of his duties as First Lord has given unbounded satisfaction to the officers and men of the Fleet. It is due to Mr. Balfour to assert that the direct, result of his presence at the Adiniralty has been to create between tho personnel of the Fleet and the great Department over which he presides, ah unqualified bond of mutual sympathy and confidence. The Navy League must again emphasise the view to which it has so frequently given expression, and upon which it has made the strongest representation to His Majesty's Government, that tliore ought not to bo, and that there must not be, any interference wi.th the full play of the sea powor exorcised by the Fleet by any other Department of the Government, oxcept the Admiralty; and it strongly appeals for the support of the public opinion of the Empire in demanding that no secret agreements and 1 no international tribunals of any kind whatsoever shall bo - permitted during tho course of the war, or in the future, to limit or restrict tho activities of the Fleet in executing the primary objects of its existence. The Treatment of the Navy. The Leaguo strongly maintains that it would be in conformity with the dignity of this country, in viow of tho dominant place which the Navy occupies in the prosecution of the war, that an Admiral should be appointed to tho War Council of the Cabinet, and should have his proper place in tho consideration of all questions affecting the joint war policy of the Allies. Tho League has frequently submitted to the Government the gross injustice under which officers in His Majesty's Fleet suffer in their pay and allowances. The Leaguo holds that in return for the services rendered no servant of tihe Crown is so _ wretchedly treated as the officers in His' Majesty's ships of war. The treatment ot midshipmen who lia-vo been sent to sea during tho course of the war is nothing loss than a scandal to the people of this great nation. Tlio League asks onco more for the support of the public in securing - from tho Government without further delay their consent to tho distribution of tho prize money which has leen withheld from officers and men up to the present, and which has been so well earned under indescribable conditions of risk and sacrifice. .

With the Fleet upon guard in all its strength and efficiency, the Navy Leaguo has no doubt of the future of our great causo, and urges upon all its members to enter upon the New Year with quiet confidence and unclouded hope.