THE CHANNEL RAID.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1916, Page 3

THE CHANNEL RAID.

REPORT

Australian and N Z. Cable Association

LONDON, November 2!)

In the Mouse of Commons to-day, answering Mr R. P. Houston, Unionist member for West Texteth, Mr BUfour said the Vice-Admiral commanding the Dover patrol reported that enemy destroyers on the night of 23rd November attempted to pass soma inside the Downs, but came into contact with the Ramsgate patrol in the dark. The enemy made off before our vessels could engage. The last euemy vessel fired twelve shots at two armed drifters, hitting one and doing slight damage. The destroyers did -.lot. enter the Channel. He still entertained' the hope that if the enemy entered the Chanel it would not get out without, heavy disaster. Mr Houston: 'Does l;.c Admiralty forget Uiat attack is one of the surest forms of defence, and we require ruthless lighting men in the Admiralty?" .Mr Balfour: "Those general principles an; perfectly sound in (he abstract, but if yi.iu mean that the Admiralty ij nll-.t. use warships u> attack batteries as!ior> ruthlessly il is not a policy 1 shall ever be respouisbb , for." .Mr Houston: "1 ppoke of submarines." .Mr Balfour: "We have not spared submarines when there was a chance of destroying them."