JUTLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 June 1925, Page 4

JUTLAND

THERE is nothing surprising in the fact that the Germans’ official history of i'ne naval war, 1914-1918, claims the battle of Jutland ns a German victory. That is tho sort of thing which one expects from tho psychology of such people as Hie Germans. But the facts are. against them. If tjie German fleet triumphed at Jutland, why was it so quick to flee in disorder under cover of darkness to the shelter of its minefields behind the Sylt, and leave the British fleet in command of the ocean? If the battle of Jutland was a German victory, why did not the German fleet drive the British fleet in disorder back to it?’ homo ports? If at Jutland the German fleet so signally proved its superiority, why did it not come out again from its ports, and repeat its triumphant performance? Why did it remain concealed in its ports from Juno Ist 1916 (when it fled from the scene of action near the Horn Reef) until the end of tint wav? Why was it that, when, towards the end of the war, it was ordered to put to sea and fight a last desperate battle, its crews refused duty, and mutinied? If the. battle of Jutland was. a German victory, why was it that after the Armistice the German fleet ignorniniouslv surrendered, without striking another bloww? Before and at tho battle of Jutland the German fleet was full of fight. After that battle it never wanted to fight againi, and did not fight again. That it fought well at Jutland is con ceded: hut that after that one battle it was absolutely demoralised is a fact Lr-yond dispute. On the other hand, the British fleet, though its losses at Jutland were severe, kept, (he seas, and continued the closest blockade of Germany’s coasts, and more completely than ever

prevented all overseas trade from reaching Germany, and in every way operates! as a victorious fi«et, which could move wherever it. chose upon the high seas, and completely protected the shores of Britain from invasion, while from all parts of the world supplies were carried to Britain along all the ocean traderoutes. If the battle of Jutland was a

German victory, it boro strange fruit. That, it was a defeat, and a terrible defeat, is proved by the fact that the most- and greatest, of Germany’s battleships which fought at Jutland are today sunk in the waters of Scapa Flow.