THE AMERICAN DESTROYER FLOTILLA

Nelson Evening Mail, 19 May 1917, Page 5

THE AMERICAN DESTROYER FLOTILLA

BRITISH NAVY'S WELCOME. (Australian and Association.) LONDON, May 17. The Navy League gave a luncheon in honour of the United States Navy. Sir Edward Carson, First Lord of the Admiralty, declared that the arrival of the American flotilla was one of the most important events in the history of the world It was a recognition of the fact that the Old and New Worlds meant to completely reserve the iireedom of the seas in the interests of civilisation and humanity against plunder and savagery. He admitted that submarinism was a real danger, but the Navy, assisted by the American Navy, would counteract it. Referring to the criticism of the Admiralty, Sir Edward Carson said, Let the growlers continue to growl. lhe Navv was doing its work silently and courageously. The submarine menace would not be solved by abuse or funk. Our people might be sorely tried m the coming months, and it-might in the long run be a question which nation would stick:it out. The Navy had neither swollen head nor cold feet. He advised the country not to pay the slightest attention to those who imagined that the Navy and the Admiralty did not know what they were about.