AN UGLY INCIDENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 251, 23 October 1917, Page 4

AN UGLY INCIDENT.

The German navy has again covered itself .'with infamy by inhuman and deliberate neglect of drowning sailors and passengers, sent to a watery grave by the two Hun raiders which, after sinking the two convoying British destroyers, deliberately sank "without examination" several neutral vessels and made off withoiit any attempt to save the drowning men therefrom. After all, this is just what might be expected from the enemy,'who, ever since the j war began, has exhibited a most cynical contempt for all international law, and all decent regard for the dictates of common humanity, and this despite the punctilious regard always shown by British naval commanders for the observance of such laws. We are, however, less concerned to-day with this latest instance of Hun inhumanity than with the question of how the British commanders were caught napping. The Admiralty explanation of the escape of the two raiders leaves us somewhat unconvinced as to whether there was not some very. Ibad blundering in connection with the whole affair. We rend of a -squadron of eight or nine merchant vessels, unarmed and probably of slow, speed, being convoyed by two 1 British destroyers. Surely it might be imagined that all possible precautions against [ successful attack would-be- taken.. . And yet the . protective'; "element1 . proved lamentably ihadequatie, and . , the enemy is not mily allowed to score what he quite;! naturally considers a spleiidid success, but his raiders are able to return sin safety to their lair. •.■••-•There is some doubt- as to where the. engagement took place, the G.ermans declaring that the fight was in .British 'territorial waters, off the Shetlands/ the' Admiralty, on the other hand,' hinting that the affair took place- in the open sea between the Shetlands. and the Norwegian coast. But what is the value of a so-called blockade which permits-.two heavily-armed raiders to come out into the open sea, to attack and destroy several vessels, and then to get safely back again? The Admiralty's "excuse is "the darkness of the night." But what is the value of a scouting service, aerial and otherwise, which failed to give notice of the approach of two vessels of sufficient size arid armament to be able to make mincemeat of the two destroyers? The engagement, too, 1 lasted some time, yet apparently no British warships were able to get to the scene in time to prevent the escape of. the enemy. There will, we! are afraid, be a feeling in the public mind at Home that there has beeii some grievous blundering with regard to this latest disaster.