Hindenburg's Unique Command.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13537, 30 October 1916, Page 5

Hindenburg's Unique Command.

HAS CONTROL OF GERMAN NAVY. (Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 28. No further details are published of the defeat of the attempt of German destroyers to uphold the cross Channel transport service. The Admiralty do not desire that the exact locality should be mentioned. It is understood thafca German flotilla, which is Usually ten boats, came from Zeebrugge. Germany's loss of two destroyers brings her total loss in destroyers to thirty, that is reckoning nine lost in the Jutland battle. The result of the first shows that Admiral Bacon's Dover patrol was fully awake. Since early on Friday morning n terrible gale had been raging in the Channel. In conection with the affair it is Recalled that German' naval measures wore anticipated. Since Hindenburg's assumption of military command it was asserted that he would not allow the fleet to remain inactive. He must attempt to appreciably assist the German armies, and there is good reason to believe that he would insist on an effort to harass the Channel transport service.

It is noteworthy that the Italian press to-day announces a German re.rt .that Hinclettlmrg'a powers have been further extended, including a ; powerful measure of control over the Navy in order to ensure co-ordination \of services. Thus Hindenburg has been elevated to the unprecedented : position hitherto held only by the flKaiser, of combined high naval and military authority.